For many private practice lawyers, making partner is the ultimate career milestone — the culmination of years of education, dedication, client service, and professional development. But the path to partnership isn’t just about billable hours or technical skill. It’s about developing the mindset, relationships, and business acumen that mark you early as a future leader.
Understanding what truly drives partnership decisions, will help you stay focused, visible, and positioned for success.
Here are five practical tips to help you stay on track toward partnership.
1. Demonstrate Partnership Potential Early
Partnership isn’t a last-minute promotion — it’s a gradual recognition of how you already operate. Associates who demonstrate partnership potential early tend to progress faster and with stronger internal support.
That means showing maturity, accountability, and business awareness well before your review cycle. Ask yourself:
- Am I taking ownership of files and building trusted relationships with clients?
- Do partners and peers view me as dependable, collaborative and commercially minded?
- Am I showing leadership in how I mentor juniors, manage deadlines, or handle client expectations?
Your goal is to make partners think, “This lawyer is already operating at the next level.” Consistency, reliability, and professionalism are your foundation — but pairing that with initiative and business insight sets you apart.
2. Be Business-Focused
Many associates assume that business development starts once you’re a partner. In reality, firms expect you to show commercial curiosity early in your career.
Don’t rely on current partners to bring in work or expand client relationships for you. Instead:
- Learn how your firm makes money and what its key clients value most.
- Volunteer to help with client pitches, proposals, or industry events.
- Build a small but meaningful professional network — even one client relationship you help originate can be a differentiator.
Partners are business owners. The sooner you start acting like one, the more naturally your partnership case will come together when the time comes.
3. Choose a High-Growth Practice Area
One of the smartest moves an ambitious associate can make is to align with a high-growth area of law — a sector where demand is expanding faster than supply. This not only increases your market value but also strengthens your long-term partnership prospects.
In Calgary, while energy continues to be the cornerstone of the economy, the tech sector is also growing rapidly, with a focus on FinTech, sustainable energy, AI and BioTech. In Vancouver’s thriving Tech sector, increased demand from startups means law firms with dedicated Tech Sector teams are kept busy helping private clients as they scale quickly.
Associates who position themselves in these emerging spaces — and develop genuine subject-matter expertise — often find themselves at the forefront of their firms’ strategic growth. A high-growth practice area gives you visibility, client exposure, and a platform for business development that slower-growth teams simply can’t match.
4. Cultivate Mentorship and Sponsorship
Behind almost every new partner is a sponsor — someone who advocates for them when decisions are made behind closed doors.
Mentorship helps you learn; sponsorship helps you advance.
- Seek out partners who will champion you, not just supervise you.
- Communicate your goals clearly — let leaders know you’re invested in your long-term future with the firm.
- Diversify your network; support from multiple partners across different practice groups can strengthen your case.
In firms across Western Canada, associates with strong mentors and advocates — particularly those who build trust with client-facing partners — tend to move up faster and more confidently.
5. Lead From Where You Are
Partnership is as much about leadership as it is about technical expertise. You don’t have to wait for a title to lead — you can start now.
- Take initiative on files and manage projects proactively.
- Mentor junior lawyers and set a positive tone within your group.
- Approach challenges with composure, professionalism, and solutions.
Leadership is often evaluated informally. The associates who demonstrate steady judgment, maturity, and team-building skills are the ones who become indispensable — and ultimately, indispensable people make partner.
The Bottom Line: Partnership Is Earned Long Before It’s Granted
Making partner isn’t about waiting your turn — it’s about showing up every day like the lawyer you want to become. Associates who demonstrate partnership potential early, develop business instincts, and align with high-growth practices consistently rise to the top.
Whether you’re building your career in Calgary, Vancouver, or anywhere in between, the path to partnership is clearer when you take ownership of it early. Think like a partner now — and your firm will begin to see you as one, too.
If you’re doing all the right things and Partnership’s not on the table… its time consider a move. Edge Legal Recruitment is here to support you. We can help you get informed about the market, identify which firms align with your goals, and set up meetings to explore your options in person. We’ve guided hundred of lawyers throughout their careers, let us use our expert knowledge to best support your next move. Contact us to Book a Consultation.