Who controls a law firm?

Asked by: Lennie Gulgowski Jr.  |  Last update: January 10, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (37 votes)

Small firms may have room for a managing partner or senior partners, but likely not both. However, in a medium or larger-sized law firm, senior partners report to the managing partner, who typically also takes on firm management, operational, and strategic duties in addition to legal practice at the firm.

Who runs a law firm?

The managing partner sits atop the law firm's hierarchy. In this role, the managing partner lays out a vision for the firm, then develops the strategic plan to achieve that goal. The managing partner dictates the firm's finances, including determining overall compensation packages and overhead costs.

What do you call someone who runs a law firm?

Partners: The owners of the firm are referred to as equity partners. In very large firms, the equity partners are called senior partners, and they are smaller in number and retain a controlling interest in the firm.

Is the owner of a law firm a CEO?

Law firm partners as owners

Law firms do not have Chief Executive Officers (CEO) to run the company. This is attributed to the fact that law firms are not companies, but partnerships. Instead, its owners are partners. The law firm's equivalent to CEOs are known as 'managing partners' or 'senior partners'.

What is the manager of a law firm called?

The Partner with overall responsibility for the management of a law firm is usually known as the Managing Partner. It is also possible that a law practice manager will be a non-lawyer employee of a firm, under the supervision of the law firm's managing partner or director.

Law Firm Hierarchy Explained

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Who is the boss in a law firm?

Who Ranks Highest in a Law Firm? The King, which is the Managing Partner (or law firm CEO) at the top.

What is the highest position in a law firm?

The highest level in a law firm is typically the senior partner, who has significant control over the firm's operations, strategic direction, and client management.

Do law firms have owners?

Outside of a few exceptions, the general rule in the U.S. is that only licensed attorneys can own law firms.

Who has more power a CEO or owner?

The position of a CEO can be temporary and subject to change, depending on their performance and the decisions of the board. Owners have more permanence in their role, with the authority to decide on their own involvement and the future of the business.

Do lawyers become CEO?

It's common for leaders of large corporations to have a master's in business administration degree. An MBA can be a major asset for those with CEO or C-suite ambitions. But a small contingent of top business executives have a law degree on their resume. Here are 15 Fortune 500 CEOs who are law school graduates.

Do lawyers have a boss?

While the managing partner may be the “ultimate law boss,” the people-managers below that position are just as important to the overall function of the firm. There's such a thing as leading from the middle, too. Leadership skills are universal, and you don't need a title to inspire your team to succeed.

What is the head partner in a law firm called?

The managing partner sits at the top of the law firm hierarchy. As a senior level or founding lawyer of the firm, managing partners oversee day-to-day operations, and often head an executive committee comprised of other senior partners. Managing partners also establish and guide the firm's strategic vision.

What is a Tier 3 law firm?

A Tier 3 law firm is less likely to do significant work for major national companies than a larger law firm. Rather, Tier 3 law firms will probably take work for individuals and small businesses that would generally be priced out of hiring a Tier 1 or Tier 2 law firm. A Tier 3 law firm may do the plaintiff's side work.

What do you call a person who owns a law firm?

Depending on the legal structure of the firm, they might be called "Members" or "Shareholders." While law firms often have a "Managing Partner" who runs the operations of the firm, most firms do not typically use the more corporate-style language of "CEO" or "President."

What is the highest level of lawyer?

A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM.

Can one person own a law firm?

Rule 5.4 prohibits non-lawyer ownership of law firms and fee-sharing by lawyers with non-lawyers. It essentially says that non-lawyers cannot own law firms. They must be owned by lawyers.

Who is most powerful after CEO?

In most organizations, the positions above the CEO include Chairman of the Board, President and Vice President. If your company is a start-up, then in some sense, a start up advisor could be seen as also being higher than the CEO.

Can an owner fire a CEO?

Sometimes, the shareholders of a company will have the power to remove a CEO. This is usually done through a vote. If the shareholders feel that the CEO is not doing their job properly, they can vote to have them removed. In other cases, the CEO may be fired by the board of directors but not by the shareholders.

Who gets paid more, CEO or Chairman?

The executive chairman's compensation package can vary significantly depending on the company's size, industry, and financial performance. Their pay is typically on par with or slightly below the CEO's.

Who runs law firms?

Law firms are typically organized around partners, who are joint owners and business directors of the legal operation; associates, who are employees of the firm with the prospect of becoming partners; and a variety of staff employees, providing paralegal, clerical, and other support services.

How do law firm owners make money?

Law firms generate revenue by billing clients through various payment structures, such as hourly billing, flat fees, contingency fees, and retainers. Many other factors impact law firm profitability, including billing and realization rates, the use of legal technology, and strong client service.

Who owns the law firm?

As owners, law firm partners are typically at the “top of the pyramid” in a law firm. Below partners, you will find associates—lawyers who are employed by the law firm but do not have ownership of the business.

What is the boss of a law firm called?

At the very top, the boss of the law firm is called a managing partner. They're in charge of the other partners and the managing committee (if the firm has one). Many firms organize their roles based on a basic organizational structure, which gives the team an idea of how they fit and who they can report to.

Who is above a lawyer?

Typically, most of the law firm hierarchy is the same.
  • Law Firm Partners. The pinnacle of the law firm hierarchy is the partners of the firm. ...
  • Associates. Next in law firm titles are associates. ...
  • Of Counsel. ...
  • Senior Associates. ...
  • Junior Associates. ...
  • Paralegals & Legal Support Staff.