I venture to say more original partnerships in law were created because two or more lawyers were sitting around talking and said "I have a great idea!".   And with that thought a business venture was created, worked for awhile, and then began to fall apart over the years as the honeymoon stage went by the way-side and the day to day grind of trying to make it wore out the excitement.

I believe that partnerships are just like marriages.  You absolutely must think of the commitment with the right person and it is more than just sitting around talking.  Because in the end what sustains the law partnership is the common held beliefs and values that allow good decisions to be made during the worst of times.

Value based law firms are simply those where everyonem but most importantly, the partners share the same core values.  Partners do not have to think alike, act alike, or look alike but they have to be value liked. 

When we do retreats for the first time with partnerships that are in trouble we go back to the basics.  We make them talk about their personal goals and their professional goals and then we make them work together to agree on common shared values. 

Know thyself!  ...and know they partner.   We have a value exercise that allows you to work through your own value system.  If you want a copy email me. Glad to share it.  A healthy partnership makes money and allows you to practice the art of law the way you are meant to.