Julie Brush Julie Brush.

Q: I'm a junior litigation partner at a mid-sized law firm. I have great credentials and trial experience, but no portable book of business. Will I be able to “upgrade” to a big firm as a partner?

A: As I have highlighted in a number of my prior posts, the legal profession is in a state of flux. And the one group that has been affected the most by this turmoil is … the law firm partner. Why? Because the law firms are losing leverage. Because the law firm bottom-line mentality is now in full force. Because job security is gone. Because the book of business is the driving force behind partner leverage, marketability … and peace of mind.

As a junior partner without a book of business, your options with Big Law will be limited. So as you begin your search process, your expectations should be managed around this current market reality. With this said, not every firm will necessarily see a young service partner as persona non grata. For those firms willing to keep an open mind … and ear, here's how they'll assess your candidacy … and desirability: