3. • No – Aboriginal lawyers remain a super-minority in the
ethnic diversity of Partners in law firms, especially in
regional, national or international
• Law Student to Graduate to Practitioner to Partner attrition is
tremendously abysmal
• Life imbalance req’d to make partner (i.e., work/clients first, long
hours and travel) does not work for most Aboriginal practitioners that
simply have greater priorities
• No conscious effort to take affirmative action to encourage law firms
to have racial, ethnic and religious equity among the partnerships
• Without affirmative action, only incremental change can occur
ARE WE JOINING LAW FIRM PARTNERSHIPS?
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4. • You gotta bring the money, honey
• Bill, bill, bill
• Clients, clients, clients
• Business development
• Trifecta buys an invite to the perceived powerful
big kid table
• How much determined by size of firm book
WHAT DOES IT TAKE?
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5. • Depends on the firm ratio of partners/associates
• Depends on if there is a division between income partners and
equity partners
• Income partners – no skinny in the firm ownership, less
influence, only vote on fundamental decisions, partner in name
• Equity partners – equity buy in for partnership units, power to
vote on all key decisions
• Universally, there is a degree of influence, management and
prestige that comes with partnership… at least with some
associates and clients
WHAT DOES BEING A PARTNER BUY YOU?
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6. • Yes... Almost every day
• Becoming partners are milestones in our careers and
students and associates should know it is achievable
• Breaking through the glass ceiling should not be
easily dispelled
• We can only change this conservative thinking by
bringing our progressive mindfulness
• “Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the
great”
IS THE EFFORT WORTH THE GAIN?
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