A partner took her practice group chair's advice and published. She wrote a detailed, well-researched article.
Before it ran, he added his name to the byline.
A byline is how clients find you. It's proof of your authority. With two names on it, readers credit the one with the bigger title.
One article seems small. A year of them builds someone else's reputation instead of yours.
Here's what I'd have her say before the article goes to Marketing:
"Thanks for supporting this. I'd like to keep it under my name since I wrote it. Would you share it with the group when it runs?"
He gets a visible role as her promoter. Authorship stays clear.
If it already ran, set the terms next time: send the draft with your byline already on it.
If he pushes back, here's what to say.
He says it carries more weight with his name:
"I appreciate that. I'm building my name with clients in this area, and this piece is part of that effort. If you share it, you'll still get the reach you're after."
He says he contributed:
"Your edits made it better, and I appreciate that. I'd like the byline to stay mine. I'd be glad to thank you in the piece."
He says that's how the group does it:
"Understood. For this one, I'd like to be sole author. Would you co-author one with me next quarter?"
Then stop talking and let him answer.
Credit is one piece of building a book that's your own. On Wednesday, November 18, I'm teaching the rest in a live, one-hour masterclass.
→ Reserve your seat here: interconnectedus.com/masterclass
Rachel
P.S.
Q: A partner at my firm added his name to an article I wrote. Should I raise it after it's published?
A: No. Reopening a published byline costs goodwill and won't change the record. Before your next article goes to Marketing, tell him you'd like to be sole author and ask him to share it when it runs. That resets how he sees your work. And if he receives it poorly, that's information, too.
Rachel Clar at Interconnected Us teaches BigLaw women how to build a 7+ figure book and take charge of her career, without relying on her firm.
Rachel Clar | Interconnected Us | interconnectedus.com
ABA LP Women Rainmakers Committee | ABA LP Leadership Committee
