If profits per partner is the measure by which others judge law firms, then decreasing the number of equity partners is one way firms can make themselves look better. In a trend that experts say will likely continue due to businesses’ cut back on legal services, law firms are demoting equity partners who once earned a share of the net income by putting them back on salaries. Critics warn that this practice of creating a two-tier partner hierarchy—equity and salaried partners—hurts the culture of the firm by creating a sub class of lawyers.
See "Law Firms Cut Partners in Slowdown", Jonathan D. Glater, The New York Times, July 1, 2001