This special edition of our column is prompted by the annual ascension in January of many lawyers to partnership. “Making partner” is an important career milestone and tradition. Kudos are merited, and this rite of passage should be enjoyed and celebrated.

In today’s profit driven, bottom line, overly harsh world, the historical analysis of the virtue of partnerships, set forth below, may seem out of place and even quaint. It is submitted that, to the contrary, reviewing some partnership foundations may prove not only instructive to the nature of partnerships today but somewhat inspiring to today’s law firm partners, new and old. Regardless, the lessons are certainly worth retelling.