Summary

This study investigates the conditions and mechanisms of fit between lawyers’ values and ambitions, on the one hand, and law firms’ values and other characteristics on the other hand. The big law firms in The Netherlands are distinguished according to their configuration as a professional partnership or managed professional business. The relationship between these configurations and different HRM practices - especially career and reward systems - is analyzed.
Fit between lawyer and law firm is an important factor in promoting commitment, retention and wellbeing of the lawyers as well as the performance of the firm.