<p>i am planning on finishing a joint JD/MBA program and would like to get into M&A law with a big firm. I'm wondering what kind of process or career track with time frame that is typical obviously starting at jr associate working your way up?</p>
<p>I’m not sure what career track you’re talking about. You start as an associate and you remain an associate until you make partner, special counsel or leave the firm. At most biglaw firms, associates are considered for partnership after around 9 years.</p>
<p>I thought the standard partnership track was 8 years.</p>
<p>depends on the firm–I’ve heard everything from 7-10 at big firms. Going part-time to raise kids, switching between the firm and government, or being deferred/furloughed for economic reasons can also slow things down.</p>
<p>The standard partnership track has grown longer over the last fifteen years or so, from 7-8 years to 9-10 years at a minimum. Many BIGLAW firms now have non-equity partners, and many associate attorneys are required to be non-equity partners for some number of years before they may be offered equity partnership (though many will not be made this offer). Many firms have counsel positions that one must hold before attorneys are made partners.</p>