Can be as miserable, or it can be more chill than a partner track associate

Basically it exists for those jobs where they need more flexibility on billing rate, stepping off the schedule of rates that escalate quickly for partner track associates. The upside is that you might not have the same pressure to step up into a senior role, no need to demonstrate business development skills or other skills that come with being senior (less up or out). You can stay in the same role for a long time. The downside is that you get paid less and have little to no room for advancement, and in the worst case, the lifestyle can be just as bad. But for the employee, this might only make sense if you can find the chill version of the job, or if this is a really “prestigious” firm you want to work at to have on your resume but your credentials are not sufficient for a regular associate/counsel/partner track

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5528697&forum_id=2#47662753)

This could mean less competitive school and/or lower gpa and/or lateral from less prestigious firm.

But the hallmark is not having day-to-day work to do that can be billed at $1300/hr for a 6th year associate. Or having work to do that will be the same task, year after year, and they want the same person to do it, without having them advance (either up or out) and be replaced by a junior.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5528697&forum_id=2#47662768)