Associate: Rainmaker or Not?

"Associate – Rainmaker or Not?"

Law firm owners, when you bring on an associate, you’ve got two options:

➡️ Rainmaker Associate – Someone who brings in business

➡️ Non-Rainmaker Associate – Someone who just does the work you give them

Here’s the breakdown:

🔹 Rainmaker Model

✅ Builds their own network

✅ Eventually brings in 6-7 figures on their own

❌ Requires training, time, and budget

❌ Might leave once they’ve built independence

🔹 Non-Rainmaker Model

✅ Easier to manage and control

✅ You keep ownership of all marketing

❌ You become the bottleneck

❌ If your leads dry up, so does their workload

Ask yourself:

• Do I have consistent leads coming in for 6–12 months?
• Am I willing to invest in their marketing growth?
• Is this associate short-term help or a long-term partner?

If they’re a Rainmaker, give them visibility:

🎤 Speaking engagements

✍️ Personal newsletters

☕ Monthly 1:1s with potential clients

📲 Social media content with their voice

📈 Clear KPIs + marketing budget

If they’re Not, you better keep marketing to feed the both of you.

Because if they’re twiddling their thumbs—it’s on you, not them.

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