This article appeared in Marketing the Law Firm, an ALM/Law Journal Newsletters publication reporting on the latest, and most effective, strategies for Chief Marketing Officers, Managing Partners, Law Firm Marketing Directors, Administrators and Consultants.

Firms promote associates to partner and then expect them to “act” like a partner. Acting like a partner is an unclear declaration and can cover a wide range of expectations. One of the most important expectations for these newly minted partners is for them to have an ownership mindset. The mindset of a business owner is not something that comes naturally, nor is it in any way developed through the associate years.