Attorney Career Tracks

Attorney Partnership Career Track

Attorneys are responsible for developing and growing in four main areas: Professional Expertise and Technical Skills, Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills, Business Development, Financial Performance, and Client Management. Visit our Legal Department Jobs page to view our open positions. 

Levels 1-7 below may represent a combination of family law experience, litigation experience, or experience working at the Firm.

The attorney should demonstrate improvement and growth in all five categories each year. Each year builds upon the last year. For example, Associate Attorneys in level 3-5 should be doing all things listed in level 1-3 plus the items listed for their level. 

Representative pay is highly dependent on the attorney’s choice to work the minimum of 1500 hours or to work more hours and on the amount collected.

Factors such as family law experience, experience in NC courts, referral sources, service on law firm committees, mentorships, client reviews, client survey responses, trial experience, and quality of legal knowledge are all considered in determining attorney pay.

Billing Rates are based on attorney experience and local standards.

Associate Attorneys 1-3

Representative pay: $45,000 – $90,000 (w/bonus)[1]

Billing Rates: $200.00-$235.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Graduated from accredited law school with solid academic credentials;
  • Licensed by state bar;
  • Demonstrates practical courtroom skills by successfully trying temporary motion hearings;
  • Gains knowledge of the law by researching and assisting experienced attorneys on cases;
  • Attends CLEs to develop skills in evidence and civil procedure;
  • Increases writing skills by drafting pleadings, composing memorandum, and writing briefs.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Demonstrates maturity by accepting constructive criticism and displaying a high degree of professionalism;
  • Supportive of firm initiatives;
  • Develops a yearly goal plan and be accountable to meeting goals;
  • Demonstrates dependability;
  • Develops communication and listening skills;
  • Cooperative, follows directions and is a team player.

Business Development:

  • Develops a marketing and business development plan and continuously works to grow firm business;
  • Demonstrates an understanding of firm economics by participating in networking events;
  • Develops relationships with referral sources;
  • Gains respect of peers by being professional and demonstrating knowledge.

Financial Performance:

  • Each case has a strategic case plan and a budget;
  • Clients are regularly informed of case finances.

 Client Management:

  • Shows increasing ability to manage clients and cases by taking on cases as a lead attorney and handling them successfully;
  • Shows ability to manage client expectations by having happy, satisfied clients;
  • Obtains positive client reviews;
  • Closes out cases as the matter ends.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.0
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1500 yearly or 6.5+ daily hours invoiced to clients. All attorneys should hit minimum billable goals no later than their 2nd year of practice;
  • Retention Rate 33%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 95%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 4+ new reviews each year and NPS of 30.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 3 direct referrals new business to Attorney each year and 200+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.

Associate Attorneys 3-5

Representative Pay: $75,000 – $115,000 (w/bonus)[2]

Billing Rate: $235.00-$250.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Demonstrates legal knowledge by problem-solving complex issues;
  • Develops an increasing depth in knowledge by reading case law and researching legal issues;
  • Demonstrates legal skills through handling increasingly complex cases;
  • Sits second chair on trials and assists senior attorneys;
  • Produces work that requires little to no revision;
  • Successfully goes to trial on common family law matters: child support, child custody, and domestic violence.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Demonstrates increased maturity by giving constructive feedback;
  • Develops leadership skills by serving on committees in the firm;
  • Grows leadership skills by serving on committees or boards outside of the firm;
  • Shows increased communication skills and active listening;
  • Shows ability to problem solve firm issues and come with solutions.

Business Development:

  • Shows an increasing understanding of the firm as a business;
  • Actively markets the firm through attending non-bar association networking events, writing, and speaking;
  • Begins to receive referrals from non-clients;
  • Shows an ability to attract repeat client business.

Financial Performance:

  • Accurately quotes cases and keeps clients informed thereby reduces the need to withdraw from cases.

Client Management:

  • Demonstrates case management through strategic planning and budget management;
  • Sets client expectations and exceeds goals.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.0
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1600 yearly or 6.75+ daily hours invoiced to clients;
  • Retention Rate 35%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 95%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 4+ new reviews each year and NPS of 40.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 6 direct referrals new business to Attorney each year and 150+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.

Senior Associate Attorneys 5-7

Senior Associate Attorneys who are not interested in pursuing Partnership or whom the Partners determine not to invite to apply for Partnership may be candidates to transition to Senior Counsel positions. It is expected that Non-Equity Partners will become Equity Partners. 

Representative Pay: $100,000 – $150,000[3]

Billing Rates: $250.00-$350.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Demonstrates expertise by teaching CLEs, passing specialist exam, membership in AAML and other national recognition by peers;
  • Extensive first chair trial experience in all areas of family law;
  • Excellent research and writing skills;
  • Demonstrates practical experience in the courtroom;
  • Displays an expert level of family law, evidence, and civil procedure knowledge;
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage clients and handle complex cases without close partner supervision.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Serves on law firm committees in a leadership capacity;
  • Demonstrates a high level of emotional maturity;
  • Shows a strong desire to grow the firm;
  • Willingness and eagerness to work with young attorneys as a mentor;
  • Demonstrates resilience and perseverance;
  • Ability to supervise junior attorneys on cases.

Business Development:

  • Recognition by reputable organizations such as Super Lawyers;
  • Serves in leadership positions on community boards and organizations;

Financial Performance:

  • Exceeds minimum billable requirements;
  • Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of firm economics;
  • Has a growing referral business from non-clients that has developed through networking efforts;
  • Shows maturity in delegating work to staff to achieve client’s efforts while maintaining a budget;
  • Shows a high degree of understanding of firm economics in reviewing prebills and making decisions to cut or discount work;
  • Demonstrates the ability to retain new business through a retention rate greater than 40%.

Client Management:

  • Shows an increasing understanding of case strategy by developing strategic case plans that meet or exceed client expectations and are on a budget;
  • Obtains positive client reviews regularly;
  • Obtains client referrals;
  • Routinely achieves client goals.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.5
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1700 yearly or 7+ daily hours invoiced to clients;
  • Retention Rate 40%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 95%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 4+ new reviews each year and NPS of 45.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 12+ direct referrals new business to Attorney each year and 200+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.

Partner (non-equity) 7+ – By invitation only

Partner nominations are made by the Partnership Committee, which may consist of management and Equity Partners. Candidates then are reviewed through formal interviews, examination of records, and comments from other attorneys and staff. Each candidate is then voted on by the entire partnership committee at a special meeting. Non-equity partners must be employed 2 years with the firm and have a minimum of 7 years of relevant family law and litigation experience. Partners should expect to work as many or more hours than they did as Associate Attorneys.[4]

It is expected that Non-Equity Partners are on track to become Equity Partners and have a desire to do so. 

Representative Pay: $125,000 – $225,000[5]

Billing Rates: $350.00-$400.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Widely admired by peers;
  • Excellent trial and mediation skills as demonstrated by case performance;
  • Extensive first chair trial experience.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Maintains positive energy and has the ability to energize others;
  • Shows courage in making tough decisions;
  • Executes and gets the job done;
  • Has established a reputation for professionalism inside and outside the firm with an ability to inspire trust;
  • Capable of leading and supporting substantial teams;
  • Demonstrates loyalty to the firm and the partners.

Business Development:

  • Passion for the firm;
  • Capable of making long-term contribution to the business goals of the firm;
  • Ability to contribute creatively to the strategic planning of the firm and its implementation;
  • Entrepreneurial mindset;
  • Actively participates in marketing – speaking engagements, seminars, publishes articles etc..;
  • Ability to develop successful professional relationships.

Financial Performance:

  • Develops and originates new business;
  • Maintains above minimum billing requirements;
  • Demonstrates above average ability to retain new business.

 Client Management:

  • Demonstrates the ability to manage and delegate work to achieve client goals;
  • Receives excellent feedback and reviews from clients;
  • Develops clients as an ongoing referral source.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.5
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1600 yearly or 6.75+ daily hours invoiced to clients;
  • Retention Rate 40%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 95%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 5+ new reviews each year and NPS of 50.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 40% of new cases come from direct referrals or former clients to Attorney each year and 250+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.
  • Firm Management: 150+ hours dedicated to Firm Management

 Equity Partnership 10+ years – by invitation only

Equity partners must be with the firm for at least 3 years (with the rare exception of a lateral hire who is brought into the firm as an equity partner) and have 10 years of relevant family law and litigation experience.  Equity partners are firm owners. They must contribute to the capital account and “buy-in” to the partnership. Equity partners sign on to firm liabilities including leases, lines of credit, credit card accounts, and other contracts as personal guarantees. Equity partners need excellent personal credit.  They should be prepared to work long hours and invests personal energy and equity into the Firm.

Aspiring Equity Partners are invited in October to indicate their interest to Partnership Committee in writing. This application is usually encouraged (or discouraged) by the candidate’s mentor, the Practice group head or the Managing Partner.

Aspiring Equity Partners are asked to put forward their applications and to provide a business case for promotion by November 1.

The aspiring applicants are then interviewed. This can often become a lengthy and detailed process.

The decision to offer Partnership, are then discussed/approved at a meeting of the Partnership Committee and formal invitations to Equity Partnership are then issued, but usually subject to a medical and in some cases psychometric testing.

Equity Partners are not salaried. Equity Partners earn income based on Firm profit.

 

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Recognized widely as an expert with deep specialized knowledge in the chosen area of law;
  • Consistently delivers services to meet client expectations;
  • Seeks and plans for future trends, opportunities and threats, anticipating the need for change;
  • Cascades knowledge throughout the practice area.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Has a strategic grasp of requirements and plans to ensure an appropriate level and mix of people;
  • Creates a dynamic atmosphere for teamwork;
  • Coaches and delegates responsibly;
  • Displays the ability to motivate and inspire people.

Business Development:

  • Develops and maintains strong and profitable client/referrer relationships which are critical to the Firm’s success;
  • Develops and maintains strong and profitable non-client referral sources;
  • Originates at least one-third of business through referral sources;
  • Consistently retains enough business to be able to delegate work and support associates and support staff;
  • Raises the Firm’s profile nationally and (where relevant) internationally;
  • Enhances the Firm’s reputation in its chosen markets;
  • Assists the Firm’s efforts to develop its differentiation;
  • Shows clear accomplishments in bringing in valuable new work.

Financial Performance:

  • Consistently for at least three consecutive years has achieved the firm’s revenue targets for a salaried partner;
  • Works at least 50 hours per week;
  • Plans for and retains high-value matters;
  • Achieves superior performance against chargeable hours targets;
  • Maintains good financial disciplines.

Client Management:

  • Plans, measures and manages all aspects of Firm’s interface with its clients;
  • Plans and innovates for better service delivery;
  • Delivers excellent client experience;
  • Manages and delegates matters to associates.

Technical expertise and Contribution to the Firm as an Institution:

  • Very well-established reputation for special expertise in a relevant practice area with a portfolio of successful significant completed transactions/matters;
  • Contributes creatively to the strategic planning of the firm and its implementation;
  • Contributes to the building of the Firms Intellectual Property including precedents, templates, case management and workflows;
  • Assists in the development of leading-edge Knowledge Management and high-level technical know-how;
  • Actively helps builds the Firm’s processes and systems which contribute to the Firm’s ability to grow its business including quality control/improvement, governance and management structures;
  • Contributes to the development of a homogeneous culture and esprit de corps.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators)- Varies by Partner responsibilities to the Firm:

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.5
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1400 yearly or 6.0+ daily hours invoiced to clients;
  • Retention Rate 50%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 90%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 5+ new reviews each year and NPS of 50.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 50% of new cases each year come from direct referrals to the attorney or former clients and 250+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.
  • Firm Management: 250+ hours dedicated to Firm Management

 

 

Attorney Non-Partnership Career Track

Staff Attorney I-III

Representative Pay: $45,000 – $60,000

Billing Rate: $150.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Demonstrates research and writing skills by taking on increasingly complex assignments;
  • Develops knowledge by researching and attending CLEs;
  • Produces work on time with increasingly fewer errors.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Demonstrates maturity by accepting constructive criticism and displaying a high degree of professionalism;
  • Supportive of firm initiatives;
  • Develops a yearly goal plan and be accountable for meeting goals;
  • Demonstrates dependability;
  • Develops communication and listening skills;
  • Cooperative, follows directions, and is a team player.

Financial Performance:

  • Meets or exceeds firm billing requirements.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 6.5
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1400 yearly or 6.0+ daily hours invoiced to clients. All attorneys should hit minimum billable goals no later than their 2nd year of practice;
  • Internal Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by surveys: NPS of 50.

Senior Staff Attorney

Representative Pay: $60,000 – $75,000

Billing Rate: $150.00 – $200.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Excellent research and writing skills;
  • Displays an expert level of family law, evidence, and civil procedure knowledge;
  • Demonstrates depth of knowledge through research and problem solving;
  • Produces quality work with little to no supervision.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Demonstrates a high level of emotional maturity;
  • Shows a strong desire to grow the firm;
  • Willingness and eagerness to work with young attorneys as a mentor;
  • Demonstrates resilience and perseverance;

Financial Performance:

  • Shows understanding of firm economics by meeting or exceeding billing goals while producing quality work in an efficient manner.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.0
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1500 yearly or 6.25+ daily hours invoiced to clients. All attorneys should hit minimum billable goals no later than their 2nd year of practice;
  • Internal Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by surveys: NPS of 60.

Senior Counsel

Senior Associate Attorneys who are not promoted to Non-Equity Partner or who choose not to pursue Equity Partnership may be promoted to Senior Counsel. Lateral Attorneys who are not on a partnership track but have excellent technical skills, experience, and have earned recognition by peers.

Representative Pay: $120,000 – $155,000

Billing Rate: $275.00 – $350.00

Professional Expertise and Technical Skills:

  • Demonstrates expertise by teaching CLEs, passing specialist exam, membership in AAML and other national recognition by peers;
  • Extensive trial experience in all areas of family law;
  • Excellent research and writing skills;
  • Demonstrates practical experience in the courtroom;
  • Displays an expert level of family law, evidence, and civil procedure knowledge;
  • Demonstrates the ability to manage clients and handle complex cases without close partner supervision.

Personal Development/People Management/Leadership and Team Skills:

  • Demonstrates a high level of emotional maturity;
  • Willingness and eagerness to work with young attorneys as a mentor;
  • Demonstrates resilience and perseverance;
  • Ability to supervise junior attorneys on cases.

Business Development:

  • Serves in leadership positions on community boards and organizations;

Financial Performance:

  • Exceeds minimum billable requirements;
  • Demonstrates the ability to retain new business through a retention rate greater than 40%.

Client Management:

  • Exceeds client expectations and are on budget;
  • Obtains positive client reviews regularly;
  • Obtains client referrals;
  • Routinely achieves client goals.

KPI (Key Performance Indicators):

  • Utilization Rate (# of billable hours worked/9 hours (hours in our workday)): 7.0
  • Realization Rate (# of hours invoiced/# of billable hours worked): 1500 yearly or 6.5+ daily hours invoiced to clients;
  • Retention Rate 40%;
  • Collection Rate (# of hours collected/# of hours invoiced): 95%
  • Client Satisfaction or NPS (Net Promoter Score) Measured by client reviews and surveys: 5+ new reviews each year and NPS of 50.
  • Business Development (Measured by # of Referrals direct to Attorney and # of hours billed to marketing and business development): 20% of new case revenue each year is generated by direct referrals to Attorney or returning clients and 100+ hours dedicated to marketing and business development.

Management and Alternative Career Tracks

The Firm also has many opportunities for attorneys who wish to pursue goals in management and who no longer desire to manage a full caseload. Some of these positions may mean leaving the practice of law behind. Some positions may require the attorney to reduce their caseload to manage others. Attorneys with appropriate experience and skills may be given the opportunity to manage departments or divisions within the Firm. An attorney could pursue a career in Administrative Management, Marketing and Sales, or Legal Operations.

 

[1] According to ZipRecruiter, the average entry-level Associate Attorney pay $56,239 with 49% of the jobs paying between $30,500-$49,499.

[2] According to PayScale, the average Associate Attorney with similar experience levels is earning $72,000.

[3] According to Indeed, the average Senior Associate Attorney with similar experience levels is earning $86,954.

[4] According to a 2016 Partner Compensation Survey by Major, Lindsey & Africa, both male and female partners billed virtually the identical number of hours as they reported in 2014 (1,703 vs. 1,702 for males and 1,632 vs. 1,634 for females). Equity partners continue to report higher non-billable hours than Non-Equity partners, 674 vs. 515.  See also https://www.americanbar.org/publications/law_practice_home/law_practice_archive/lpm_magazine_articles_v33_is5_an19/

[5] According to PayScale, the average Partner (no distinction between equity and non-equity) earns $179,437.00.

 

 

You can view current open positions on our career page. 

Finance department organization chart