#94: How to Respond When Your Mentor Partner Pulls Back from You in BigLaw

When you've spent years building trust with a partner who once championed your career, it can be deeply unsettling when they suddenly stop giving you work, exclude you from client calls, or even fail to support your partnership candidacy. I've seen this happen often in BigLaw. It's painful, hard to understand, and often tough to find a way to move forward without that support.

In this episode, I explain the structural, economic, and political reasons that drive this kind of behavior, and the concrete steps you can take to protect your career, your client relationships, and your reputation within your BigLaw firm. I also share how to recognize early warning signs, document your value, and rebuild momentum through new mentors, visibility, and business development efforts.

At a Glance:
00:00 Introduction and the reality of losing a mentor partner's support
02:12 The first signs of a deliberate cutoff and how to recognize the shift
03:40 Structural reasons behind the change, including billable pressure and firm economics
05:26 How your mentor may fear losing client credit or control as you become more visible
06:45 Why mentors can begin to see protégés as competitors rather than allies
08:24 The emotional impact of losing your mentor, and how to separate feelings from facts
09:54 Protecting your hours and finding alternate work streams
11:03 Documenting every contribution and communicating it effectively
12:52 How to prepare for a difficult conversation with your mentor partner
14:35 Turning insights into a strategy for next steps
15:48 Expanding mentorship, sponsorship, and visibility
16:23 When and how to escalate the issue if needed
19:52 Steps to rebuild relationships and regain career stability
23:25 Why losing a mentor can become a turning point for independence

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law. 

For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here! 

For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars.

Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com 

[e-mail]  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/ 

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast