'Horrible Bosses' film starring Kevin Spacey: Do most BigLaw Partners resemble him?

Graduate School Law School
1

<p>I thought this film was hilarious and at the same time it produced sympathy in me for employees out there who may feel powerless inside their firm.
After reflecting especially on Kevin Spacey's character (the CEO "Harken" -- for memory recall he's pictured [url="<a href="http://cdn3.standard.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/max_800/2011/08/02/story-02-horrible-bosses-93184.jpg%22%5Dhere%5B/url"&gt;http://cdn3.standard.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/max_800/2011/08/02/story-02-horrible-bosses-93184.jpg"]here[/url&lt;/a&gt;] on the right), I wanted to ask how closely his character compares with a typical law firm Partner. Are there many similarities, or is this character perhaps just a huge exaggeration?</p>

<p>Feel free to also comment in general on the relationship dynamics between BigLaw firm Partners and their subordinates.</p>

2

<p>Didn’t see the movie but can tell you that there are as many different relationships between partners and associates as there are between people generally. There are partners who are supportive and wonderful mentors and there are those who are nasty and manipulative - just like every other business.</p>

3

<p>Nice, how about some other responses?</p>

4

<p>Cartera is spot on.</p>

5

<p>Hollywood is in the business of 1) making money, 2) making money, and 3) making money by 4) providing (hopefully) entertaining movies attracting a mass-market audience. No room for acurracy; plot, character, and dialogue that stay true to historical facts unless required for 1-4. See “reality” TV shows for further examples of the devotion to truth when it gets in the way of making a profit (possible exception to “Dangerous Catch”). Agree with Cartera - Hollywood’s portrayal of life inside a law practice is likely to be as acurrate as “The Paper Chase” was to being a Harvard 1L.</p>