New Study Finds Associates Like Their Partners, but Not Vice Versa

A survey of nearly 1,400 partners and more than 1,000 associates at regional, national and elite law firms reveals that most partners don't think that their associates work as hard as they did at that stage of their careers, and many partners think today's associates are not as good at their jobs and are less committed to their work.

April 02, 2020 at 01:00 AM

5 minute read

Karen Sloan

The original version of this story was published on Law.com

Today's law firm associates have generally positive things to say about the partners they work for. Unfortunately, that admiration isn't reciprocal.

A new, large-scale survey reveals that most partners don't think that their associates work as hard as they did at that stage of their careers, and many partners think today's associates are not as good at their jobs and are less committed to their work.

The report, titled "Multiple Generations In Law Firms: Working Together," is a collaboration between the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and law firm consulting firm PP&C. Researchers gathered survey responses from nearly 1,400 partners and more than 1,000 associates at regional, national and elite law firms in 2019 in a bid to better understand the generational dynamics at play in those workplaces.