Successful rainmaking lawyers need associates. In hiring they look for intelligence, technical ability, team spirit and a good attitude. Sometimes they hire at or above their level, although more often hires have less experience than their bosses. Some rainmakers need associates with identical skill sets, while others require overlapping or different areas of expertise. It depends upon the work at hand.

What is crucial to any rainmaker’s hire is that the associate work hard, be willing to stretch (and therefore sometimes make mistakes), listen carefully and probe with questions anything that is not understood. The best rainmakers want someone who can think outside of the box when necessary and have good instincts about getting along with and growing clients. How do rainmakers go about hiring associates to do quality, cost efficient work, make clients happy and make the rainmaker happy? There are some best practices guidelines for such hires.

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