Law firms and associate careers: tournament theory versus the production-imperative model.

From: Yale Law Journal | Date: May 1, 1995| Author: Kordana, Kevin A. | Copyright information

The tournament model for corporate personnel organization does not apply to large corporate law firms. Law firms are structured more by the work they do, with partners and associates working together to keep costs down and profits up, than by all associates competing to achieve partnership. Associates are motivated to work not because of promises of partnership, which few will achieve, but by the skills and experience they acquire which they can use elsewhere when they move onto other jobs. T...

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