Finishing law school and passing the bar exam are just the first steps on the long road generally taking about 10 years toward partnership in one of Texas’ largest firms. But racking up billable hours is not all it takes to become a partner in a large firm, says Todd Chen, a corporate shareholder in the Houston office of Winstead.
“With my Eastern culture, the philosophy is that generally hard work will get you results, will get you success,” Chen says. “Hard work does not distinguish you in a law firm; for the most part everybody works pretty hard.” Chen says the formula for success is multifaceted. “When you’re aspiring to be a partner, you have to know how to bring business to the firm, how to be a leader in your firm and how to get along with everyone,” he says.
