The Partnership Model Is Changing: Are You?

The legal career journey is changing

For decades, a lawyer’s trajectory seemed simple. Train, qualify, work hard and you’ll likely make partner. The destination justified the journey, and that journey felt like the only career path worth considering.

But, things are changing for today’s lawyers, with more options than ever for a successful, fulfilling legal career. Whether you’re already an established partner or a newer lawyer considering if the partnership model is right for you, the research suggests now is the time to look up and ask whether the path you’re on is still the right one.

The numbers behind the shift

A recent survey of 160 partners across the UK Top 250 law firms, conducted by TBD Marketing, found that one in five partners are unsure whether they’ll still be at their current firm within the next three years. Among the largest firms (the UK Top 50) that figure rises to nearly one in four.

These aren’t disengaged lawyers. 96% of those surveyed said they would recommend their firm as a place to work. Yet a significant minority are still weighing up whether partnership is still giving them what they need and wondering if a better way of working could be out there.

The disconnect becomes clearer when you look at how partners feel their work is valued. The same research found that partners gave their firms an average score of just 2.6 out of 10 for how fairly contribution is measured. Those in leadership roles were even more critical, scoring their firms just 1.3 out of 10. Nearly a quarter of responders gave a score of zero.

Given those stats, it’s no wonder more senior lawyers are considering a move. They’ve made it to the top, yet feel their contribution isn’t being properly recognised. 

Money vs politics: consultancy could be the answer

The Lawyer’s 2026 partnership sentiment survey paints a similar picture from a different angle. When aspiring partners were asked what drew them to the role, money and status came out on top, and around a quarter were motivated by the idea of building a business.

Meanwhile, partnership politics was flagged as a major deterrent. The culture around making and sustaining partner, for many, has become as much a burden as a badge of honour. This is particularly true of younger lawyers considering their career direction, as many are more likely to prioritise work-life balance while also being more aware of the other models out there. 

The model is being challenged from the outside, too. The traditional LLP structure is facing structural competition. Consultancy models have moved into the mainstream. Setfords, for example, ranked 76^th in The Lawyer UK Top 250 in 2025, with 47% organic revenue growth. This represents a fundamental broadening of how legal careers can work, and the old assumption that there was one credible path no longer holds. Lawyers don’t have to choose between landing a senior role and enjoying a better work-life balance.

The five-year question

This scenario may sound uncomfortably familiar, especially for those who are reaching the five-year qualified mark. This is the stage where many solicitors first lift their heads from the day-to-day and ask whether the path they’re on is really the one they’d choose again.

By this point, lawyers have built genuine expertise, developed client relationships and proven you can do the work. The question that follows is, who’s really benefiting from all of that?

In a traditional firm, the answer is often the firm itself. Your billings feed a structure that rewards those above you, with the promise that one day the same structure will reward you too.

Consultancy reframes that equation by giving experienced solicitors the ability to practise on their own terms: choosing their clients, setting their own pace, and keeping significantly more of what they earn. For many, this feels like a better way of practicing law.

The question experienced lawyers are really asking

For those already well-established, perhaps already at partner level or equivalent, the research raises a different but related question. If one in five of your peers are reconsidering their futures, what do they see that you might not be looking at yet?

The findings suggest it isn’t dissatisfaction with the work itself. Most partners still find the work rewarding. What’s eroding is confidence in the structures around it: how contribution is measured, how decisions are made, how the economics of partnership are distributed, and whether the model will continue to deliver what it once promised. Perhaps there’s a nagging question about whether there might be a better way to structure the next chapter of your career.

For some, that question leads to a move to another firm. For a growing number, it leads somewhere else entirely.

A different kind of next step

The reason consultancy is gaining traction at every level of the profession, from mid-career solicitors assessing their options to senior partners rethinking the path ahead, is that it addresses the specific frustrations that keep surfacing.

It removes the politics, replaces opaque reward structures with transparent ones and gives solicitors genuine control over how they work, what they earn, and how they build their lives. At the same time, they can continue to do the high-quality legal work they trained for with the support of an established firm behind them.

Of course, the partnership model isn’t disappearing, and it remains a viable career option that many still aspire to. However, it is no longer the only serious option, and the data suggests that more solicitors than ever know it.

How to apply for consultancy with Setfords

If you’ve been thinking about what comes next, we’re here to help you make an informed decision. You can try our earnings calculator to see how much you could be earning as a consultant with Setfords, discover the stories behind others who were in your position, or get in touch for a confidential conversation. Our team of experts are here to make your transition to consultancy smooth and successful.