Today, the road to partnership involves more than billing hours and producing great work. It's also now about more than business development, firm economics, and client relationships. A new factor also driving advancement is artificial intelligence. AI is already reshaping research, diligence, drafting, and reporting. In addition, it compresses tasks that once justified entire teams of associates. That means the old BigLaw pyramid model is under pressure, and the skills firms now look for in future partners are shifting rapidly.
In this episode, I walk through what partnership track lawyers need to know about AI’s impact on the profession, how to use it strategically in your practice, and how to position yourself as indispensable to both clients and your firm.
At a Glance:
00:00 Introduction and why AI is changing the partnership track
01:20 How AI is replacing work once handled by junior associates and large diligence teams
02:45 The decline of the BigLaw pyramid in the age of AI and the new calculus for partnership success
03:12 Why firms prioritize high-value, complex matters that AI cannot commoditize
04:18 How associates can leverage their need to expand expertise in AI to seek early exposure to client calls, strategy meetings, and negotiations
04:44 Using AI tools on low-risk tasks and showing measurable client outcomes
05:10 Leading multidisciplinary teams that now include data scientists and technologists
06:30 Demonstrating client judgment in AI-assisted work by asking “Would I trust this outcome if I were the client?”
07:25 Joining firm AI committees and pilots to gain visibility and credibility
08:17 Shifts in client expectations: efficiency, cost transparency, and outcome-based fees
09:45 The lawyer’s edge: spotting risks that AI misses and proving strategic value
11:01 Rewriting your career narrative for the AI era: from hard worker to AI-enabled strategist
12:05 Freeing time for business development by leveraging AI efficiencies
12:50 Tracking and sharing metrics on time saved, cost savings, and improved margins
13:54 How AI enables more volume, fewer write-offs, and stronger profitability
14:42 Why AI should be seen as an accelerator, not a competitor
15:21 What firms will value most over the next decade: legal judgment, client impact, and tech fluency
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Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?
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laura@lauraterrell.com
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Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast
