What is the average age of a law firm partner?

Asked by: Pearlie Hirthe  |  Last update: July 8, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (23 votes)

The average age to make a partner in a law firm, investment bank, asset management firm, or private wealth management firm is around 35 to 38 years old. However, this can vary depending on the firm and the specific specialty. For example, it may take longer to make a partner in a large law firm than in a smaller firm.

How many years does it take to become a law firm partner?

Some firms do make decisions about partnership after 7 years; however, many firms have partnership tracks based on 8, 9, 10 or 11 years.

What is the average salary of a big law firm partner?

Over the past decade, average compensation for partners has nearly doubled to $1,411,000 in 2024, rising 26% in the last two years alone. Equity partners are earning more than three times more than non-equity partners on average. Average originations have soared to $3,476,000—a 26% increase from 2022.

Is it a big deal to make a partner at a law firm?

Pros of Being a Law Firm Partner One of the pros of being a law firm partner is the prestige factor. Even non-legal professionals understand that having the title of partner is a big deal and connotes an objective level of success.

How old are most senior partners?

Senior Partner demographics and statistics in the US
  • There are over 13,774 senior partners currently employed in the United States.
  • 36.9% of all senior partners are women, while 63.1% are men.
  • The average senior partner age is 39 years old.

Day in the Life of a Corporate Lawyer [The HONEST TRUTH]

18 related questions found

What age do most lawyers make partner?

The average age to make a partner in a law firm, investment bank, asset management firm, or private wealth management firm is around 35 to 38 years old. However, this can vary depending on the firm and the specific specialty. For example, it may take longer to make a partner in a large law firm than in a smaller firm.

What is the average age for a partner?

The preferred age of females is 24.8 years and the actual average age females marry is 25.3 years old (and 28.2 for males) which actually falls directly on the age where females are most fertile, however, this assumes that people are having children immediately after marrying.

What percent of lawyers make a partner?

“So, over time, roughly 30 percent have eventually made partner for this group. But that doesn't mean that on any given year, 30 percent of associates are going to make partner.” Zamsky estimates that half of associates hired by small firms eventually become partners. Their average salary might be $80,000 or $90,000.

Do law firm partners get fired?

Partners and senior attorneys who lack a significant book of business may be let go. Those who fail to meet billing targets or work in practice areas with declining profitability may also face termination.

Is partner the highest position in a law firm?

Law firms are known for their hierarchical structure, with partners at the top and associates at the bottom. However, there are other positions within law firms that often cause confusion, such as the of counsel position.

Do big law partners make millions?

Average compensation for partners in larger law firms is $1.4 million, a record high that represents a 26% increase since 2022, according to a new survey by legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa.

How many partners does a law firm have?

Some firms have one attorney/owner and thus no partners. Other firms have several partners while some firms have more than 1000 partners.

Is being a law firm partner hard?

The partnership track is challenging for any associate, but attorneys of color and women have some special obstacles. One of the biggest is finding a mentor.

Is making partner at a law firm a big deal?

Partnership. For many, many BigLaw associates, partnership is the holy grail of a BigLaw career. Partnership represents the pinnacle of success, the reward for many, many years of hard (often grueling) work.

How stressful is working in a law firm?

Is it stressful to work in a law firm? Working in a law firm can be very stressful, as there is often a great deal of pressure to meet deadlines, handle multiple cases, and win clients' cases. Lawyers may also be expected to work long hours and navigate internal competition for progression opportunities.

Why would a partner leave a law firm?

Key signs a partner has outgrown a firm: (1) the partner turns away work because the firm lacks the expertise to handle the matter; (2) a client won't give the firm work because it is not known in that practice area; and (3) the partner has grown to lack confidence in the firm's management or disagrees with the firm's ...

Who do most lawyers marry?

Many lawyers end up marrying other lawyers due to shared experiences and understanding of the profession's demands. However, successful relationships can occur between lawyers and partners in any profession, as long as there's mutual respect and understanding.

How many lawyers have affairs?

Love and Law: 51% of Lawyers Polled Have Had an Office Affair. Who says the law isn't sexy? In Vault's annual Office Romance survey, 51% of attorneys reported that they had been part of an office romance.

Do lawyers have to pay to be partner?

Equity partners have to fund a buy-in for owning a portion of the firm. Non-equity partners don't have to buy-in, but also don't have an ownership stake in the firm. Non-equity partners often continue to receive a salary as their compensation—instead of being paid based on firm profits.

What is the average age of a law partner?

The 45-54 bracket was the most populous age group within the partnerships of firms that participated in the survey, with non-equity partners tending to fall within the 34-45 bracket.

What age do people usually make partner?

Back in 2004, if you hadn't made partner by the age of 40, you were probably never going to. However, now it is the norm to get made up to partner at around the age of 40.

What age should my partner be?

Dating Age Rule. The dating age rule to determining a socially acceptable age difference in partners goes something like this: half your age plus seven (40 = 20 +7 = 27) to define the minimum age of a partner and your age minus seven times two (40 = 33 * 2 = 60) to define the maximum age of a partner.