In the high-stakes environment of Big Law, partners have a significant impact on the professional lives of those below them. According to surveys conducted with associates, counsels, non-equity partners, and support staff, the effectiveness of partners in prioritizing the wellbeing of their subordinates does not currently influence their compensation packages. This raises the question of whether mental health considerations should be factored into partner compensation.
Some firms have adopted approaches that do take firm stewardship into account, such as team-based compensation systems and the lockstep model. However, many attorneys argue that the prevailing “eat-what-you-kill” model prevalent in Big Law may negatively impact the mental health of those working under equity partners. As one lawyer noted, “Eat what you kill means you have no leeway to stop killing—no matter how bad you feel.”
Such perspectives open the floor to a broader discussion on how compensation structures might evolve to support both profitability and the mental health of legal professionals. For a closer look into this debate, visit the American Lawyer article.