Without Mandatory Retirement, Lack of Succession Plans Threaten Small and Midsize Firms

In the post-pandemic era, widely adopted flexible work arrangements have given lawyers a new view of their work. But in a profession without mandatory retirement policies, a partner's decision to keep practicing may not entail a discussion of the ultimate succession of their practice and clientele.

8 minute read January 01, 2023 at 12:03 AM
By
Dan Roe, Justin Henry and Jessie Yount
Without Mandatory Retirement, Lack of Succession Plans Threaten Small and Midsize Firms

The pandemic initially caused many lawyers to speed up their exit from the profession. But it was also the reason some decided to stick around, exacerbating one of the most common impediments to succession planning: the transition of institutional clients to up-and-coming partners.

This premium content is locked for Marketing the Law Firm subscribers only

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE SINGLE SOURCE OF OBJECTIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS, PRACTICAL INSIGHTS, AND NEWS IN Marketing the Law Firm

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

Already have an account? Sign In Now

For enterprise-wide or corporate access, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or call 1-877-256-2473.

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2026 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Continue Reading

Agentic AI introduces risks that are novel and complex, but the most effective response is a familiar one. Zero Trust answers the problem of when an AI agent misfires on its own by constraining what an agent can do rather than betting on how it will behave.

July 31, 2026

The outsourcing of office and administrative services is expected to grow 50%-60% in the next five years. Contrary to what decision-makers think, and what the service providers hope you think, the biggest risk in outsourcing isn't choosing the wrong provider. It's outsourcing the wrong process, under the wrong model, with the wrong performance measures and contract terms.

July 31, 2026