ABSTRACT
Partnership is a sign of occupational success for the associates. They grow out of the intimate work associations which occur in law firms where the partner is dependent on the associate for certain kinds of information and service and the associate is dependent on the partner for advice and protection. Competition among associates is based mainly on competence and perseverance. It rarely becomes conflict, partly because even serious contenders for a partnership usually do not work on the same matter. Others think that client sponsorship is the sure path to success. "The best way to become a partner is to work for clients who contribute substantially to the firm, so that eventually they call directly and begin to depend on you and you become more and more important." While a number of people thought partner sponsorship was important, others felt that it could do an associate some harm. Many young lawyers mentioned social background as a help toward partnership.
