Main Responsibilities of a Partner at an Amlaw 200 Law Firm
Mindy, a partner at an AmLaw 200 firm, describes her multifaceted role as directing five to 25 active cases concurrently, acting as a "cat herder" to ensure timely, high-quality work product, and mentoring junior lawyers; this contrasts sharply with earlier career stages where the focus was on research and internal client relations, showcasing significant career evolution.
Legal Practice, Litigation, Case Management, Client Relations, Professional Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Mindy Morton
Partner
Amlaw 200 law firm
UC Berkeley
Yale Law School, J.D.
Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Honors Student
Video Highlights
1. Manages 5-25 active cases simultaneously, overseeing all aspects from start to finish.
2. Ensures timely completion and high-quality work product, reviewing documents for accuracy and client alignment.
3. Partnerships and client relationships evolve from internal collaboration to external client interaction as experience increases.
Transcript
What are your main responsibilities within your current role?
As a partner in a law firm, I direct cases. As a litigator, I have anywhere from five to 25 cases active at a time.
I like to say I'm a cat herder. This means I keep the trains running and make sure everything happens on time. I ensure the work product we put out is of quality.
I read all of the briefs and documents that go out. I make sure they are appropriate, free of typos, and align with what my client is looking for in our style.
This is very different from what you do. Starting out as a junior lawyer, you do a lot of research and write many memos. You learn a lot about what the partners are working on and the kind of work product they expect.
At that point, your clients are really the law firm partners. Today, most of my clients are outside companies, although I do still get referrals from other partners within my law firm.
Law is definitely one of those careers where the more senior you get, the more your job changes.