I recently shifted from mid to senior associate - about a year since I lateraled from a mid-size firm. First gen lawyer and basically the only non-drug addict/alcoholic in my biological family, and I started this career with 2 kids. I have worked my ass off to get where I am and exhausted, and continue working as hard as I can while trying to be a good parent and outsourcing house work as I can.
My partner mentor (assigned by the firm) told me if I bring in clients I will be more successful. It sounds like he is basically chiming in about the equity v. non-equity partner differential and how it can be helpful financially to have the client relationships. But I see all the new partners don't have their own clients and are handed clients established at the firm.
Can someone explain what is going on here? If a partner retires that had the client relationship, can they pass down client credits or will it truly never provide great income if you don't bring the client in yourself?