Life skills and career tips for Canada's lawyers in training
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/79554
are usually the head of the executive com- mittee at the fi rm if there is one. PARTNER: Depending on the size of the fi rm, it can take on average about seven to 10 years to reach partner status these days at a big fi rm. In small fi rms it could be as little as four years. EQUITY PARTNER: Equity means this law- yer has the potential to share in the profi ts of the fi rm. It can depend on the fi rm, but in many cases all partners are equity partners. NON-EQUITY/INCOME PARTNER: Th is person is a partner in name but receives a set salary, and has the right to participate in certain deci- sions but can write off certain expenses. Th eir salary is not tied directly to a share of the fi rm's profi t. ASSOCIATE: Duties vary from fi rm to fi rm but an associate is a lawyer who has fi n- ished articling and is expected to work on a range of fi les and subject areas. New associates are oſt en paired up with a ju- nior partner or senior associate to work on fi les but some associates get to tackle fi les on their own right from the get-go. OF COUNSEL: Many large and mid-size fi rms have lawyers with the title "of coun- sel" or "special counsel" which diff ers from partner or associate. Th ey work for the fi rm, or are still associated with the fi rm, perhaps as an independent contractor but are not part of day-to-day structure. Th ey may be fulfi lling other external responsi- bilities, such as a political appointment or secondment to a corporation. Th ey may also be a retired partner who chooses to maintain ties to the fi rm and work on spe- cial projects such as international law, or in specialty areas. DIRECTOR OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT/ PROJECT MANAGEMENT: Th is person, of- ten a technology guru of sorts, is oſt en a lawyer at the fi rm who typically has responsibility for providing guidance on the precedent database, knowledge transfer, and guides how research in- formation is managed and shared in the fi rm. Th ey also provide guidance on pro- cess management in litigation fi les, etc. REFERENCE/LAW LIBRARIAN: Th e library plays a major role in the knowledge management within the fi rm. Th e librar- ian provides services to lawyers, stu- dents, law clerks, and assistants. While law librarians can be a huge source of 8 F A L L 2012 C ANADIAN Lawy er 4STUDENTS ntitled-3 1 2/23/11 4:38:31 PM