<p>random question.
what happens when an associate goes through 7 or 8 years (whatever the partnership track may be) and doesn't make it?</p>
<p>You are asked to leave.</p>
<p>You could be asked to become 'of Counsel' or similar terminology which basically means that while you're not being invited to become a partner, you're still considered valuable enough to the firm to have around. You'll be paid a salary, but you won't enjoy partnership benefits.</p>
<p>my impression is that there are usually "warning signs" before this happens...associates kind of know whether they're going to make partner or not, and most people who aren't going to, end up moving to another job before the people in their class of associates start to make partner.</p>
<p>by moving, do you mean you start over at another firm in pursuit of the 8 year partnership track?</p>
<p>Neverborn and Sakky are both right; it depends on who you are and what firm it is. If you move to another firm you will not start from scratch; unless that other firm needs you badly enough to make you a partner right away (it happens in a few cases) you will be considered for partnership in perhaps 2 years.</p>