Law firm partners are often encouraged to delegate as much work as possible to associates. This is because delegating work frees up partners to focus on business development, client relationships, and other tasks that may be more appropriate for senior attorneys. In addition, it is important to keep associates busy so they can churn out billable hours that can have a positive impact on a firm’s bottom line.
However, partners should sometimes complete work themselves rather than assigning it to associates. In certain situations, it may take a partner more time to explain an assignment, provide the materials necessary to complete the project, and review the finished product than it would take the partner to perform the work without assistance.
Earlier in my career, I worked at a few large law firms at which partners usually assigned most tasks to associates. This made sense since associates generally billed at lower hourly rates than partners, and law firms needed to keep associates busy. Moreover, partners were often responsible for supervising many different matters, so they could not personally complete every task that arose in their cases.
Nevertheless, I sometimes saw partners spend substantial time preparing associates to handle relatively simple assignments. A partner might need to locate documents, explain the procedural history of a case, describe the client’s objectives, and identify issues the associate should consider. The associate might then have follow-up questions, and the partner would need to spend additional time providing guidance.
Once the associate completed the assignment, the partner usually needed to review the work. Sometimes, the partner made substantial revisions because the associate did not have the same familiarity with the matter or because the partner had a particular way they wanted the work product organized. In those situations, the partner might have saved time by completing the project from the beginning.
For instance, a partner might need a short letter concerning an issue that has already arisen several times in a case. In order to assign the letter, the partner may need to send the associate earlier correspondence, relevant court orders, and other materials. The partner may also need to explain what happened during prior conversations with opposing counsel and what the partner hopes to accomplish through the letter.
After receiving the draft, the partner may need to revise the document so that it reflects the partner’s understanding of those conversations and the strategy the partner wants to pursue. Depending on the circumstances, it might be easier for the partner to draft the letter personally.
Of course, situations in which delegating an assignment may take more time in the short term will save time later. Once an associate becomes familiar with a matter, that attorney may be able to handle future tasks without requiring much direction. The initial time spent explaining the case can therefore be viewed as an investment that makes future delegation easier.
However, not every task presents a meaningful training opportunity, and not every assignment will lead to additional work for which the associate’s knowledge will be useful. Sometimes a project is discrete, relatively straightforward, and based heavily on information that the partner already possesses.
Partners should also consider the effect that delegation can have on clients. For instance, clients usually do not want multiple attorneys billing time on a task when one lawyer could have completed the project efficiently. Even when an associate has a lower billing rate, the combined time spent by the associate and the supervising partner may exceed the amount the partner would have billed by handling the task alone.
Naturally, partners cannot personally complete every assignment, and delegation is essential to operating a successful law firm. Associates need work, partners have limited time, and firms benefit when tasks are assigned to the attorneys best positioned to handle them. Nevertheless, delegation should not be automatic. Before assigning a project, partners should consider how much time it will take to explain the work, answer questions, and review the finished product. In some situations, everyone may save time if the partner simply completes the task.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.
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