MovieChat Forums > Boston Legal (2004) Discussion > Why wasn't Alan a partner?

Why wasn't Alan a partner?

posted 13 years ago by There-Can-Be-Only-One
28 replies | jump to latest

It was never even mentioned in the entire 5 seasons - not once by anybody.

How do I know he wasn't? Well, for starters, on the first episode when he sits down in the staff meeting, Brad tells him he outranks him, and a few episodes down the line, Brad makes partner. This implies that Alan was not yet a partner. Then I believe, though I could be mistaken on this one, that when Alan goes into the partners meeting to fight for Jerry to become partner, he is told he can't be there because it is a partner's only meeting.

What bothers me about him not being partner, despite his perhaps not being there as long as others were (though who would know with all the comings and goings, but I digress), and despite his being sort of a loose-cannon rebel, is that he is THE go-to guy. Any time ANYone needs help - a named-partner, a judge - they ALL go to Alan. So if Alan is Crane, Poole, and Schmidt's Ace in the Hole, why is he not partner?

It just bugs me that it was a non-issue, since it was THE issue for several episodes with other attorneys there.

Perhaps someone can shed some light.

...don't just laugh. Answer the pepperoni.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] There-Can-Be-Only-One 13 years ago

I had thought about that too, and I totally agree with you. I suspect he wouldn't have wanted it anyway. But in that case, you think someone would have brought it up at some point, and he could have just said he wasn't interested. That it never even came up seems so far fetched to me.

...don't just laugh. Answer the pepperoni.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] There-Can-Be-Only-One 13 years ago

I just watched the entire series, and never heard it mentioned.

...don't just laugh. Answer the pepperoni.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] Trackmaster 13 years ago

There was an episode where said, "Of coarse, you'll never make me a partner becase...." and I forget what the explanation is.

[–] depaul_rules 13 years ago

Going back to the days of The Practice and his history of unethical behavior would not lend itself for him to ever be a partner. I'm sure in the real world no major firm would even take him on as an employee given his past. Sure he pulls rabbits out of hats all the time on the "tv" show.

[–] Reaperdude68 12 years ago

He couldn't be trusted as a partner. Plus as an associate if any of his antics ever actually went over the line it would be easier to protect the firm. However the show implies that he is paid like a partner based on his life style and clearly the named partners treat him as an equal. Even Paul who hated Alan's guts always turned to him to solve problems.

[–] lexwalk 11 years ago

I'm watching it again right now, and they make it pretty clear in the first season that he's been denied the role of partner because of his cavalier approach to law and constant disrespect to his superiors. He's usually being threatened with a firing ("do that again and you're out of here..."), nevermind being rewarded with a partnership. And after a few of those moments in the first season, it's pretty clear that his relationship with the firm is that he's their rainmaker for really hard cases but who they would never trust with in-house responsibilities.

[–] Leaborb192 10 years ago

yes when jerry wanted to be partner and was refused, alan butted in and then he and shirley had a conversation about why he wasn't partner. mostly because he doesn't play by rules.

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[–] HinaElena 13 years ago

I'm pretty sure it's because if he were a partner, he wouldn't be able to do those slightly shady things he sometimes does to get results. He's certainly a capable enough lawyer, but being partner would drastically limit his actions.

"The only straight I am is straight-up bitch!"

[–] kitha22 13 years ago

Just watched that episode, he said that he would never be partner because he couldn't be trusted.

Because you can't have a scary movie if you leave the shower curtain open!

[–] Trackmaster 12 years ago

It seems to me that he was the most effective lawyer at the firm, but what seperates him from being a great lawyer and partner material I guess would be his ability to run a department, and effective use a staff? Or maybe he just didn't play the game right. They didn't mention much about his work at the firm before the one he joined on the Practice, apparently he was the "Number 1 Anti-Trust lawyer in the state."

[–] kitha22 12 years ago

Another episode mentions he embezzled or at least tried to.

Because you can't have a scary movie if you leave the shower curtain open!

[–] joyfarrah 12 years ago

I'd have thought that embezzling would get you debarred as a lawyer...

[–] kitha22 12 years ago

Alan did a LOT of things that should have gotten him disbarred.

Because you can't have a scary movie if you leave the shower curtain open!

[–] joyfarrah 12 years ago

That's true, one of the things that drives me mad about the show......

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] happipuppi13 12 years ago

i donl;t think a guy like Alan would "want" to be a partner in a law firm,unless he started the firm himself.

He certainly would run it differently(and probably better) than "C.P & S."

happipuppi13 *arf,man!*!

[–] rickb69 9 years ago

Because you can't have a scary movie if you leave the shower curtain open!

That would be soft porn or hardcore porn if 2 or more people are in the shower. 

I have 2 sets of twin boys, Pete & Repete and Mark & Remarkable

[–] rickb69 9 years ago

"The only straight I am is straight-up bitch!"

My kind of bitch  

I have 2 sets of twin boys, Pete & Repete and Mark & Remarkable

[–] aryafsharm 12 years ago

I believe that the show actually does address that on many occasions, specially in the first two Seasons. Also, you should watch the final season of 'the Practice' for a bit of background on Alan Shore.

Firstly, he got fired for embezzlement from his previous firm, though they reached an agreement not to prosecute.

Secondly, as Paul Lewiston puts it, not only in Alan's case but in Jerry's, partnership is not so much about legal skills as it is about bringing in paying customers, and being presentable. Many cases that Alan took, he was defending people who couldn't pay. Also, it's obvious that Alan does not sit well with authority.

Finally, as great a lawyer as Alan is, most firms would not want people like him to work for them. He's a liability. He pisses people off, specially people who he shouldn't. He doesn't respect authority and he doesn't see law as a business.

[–] artistathome 12 years ago

I remember itbeing mentioned sometime in the last 2-3 years. Alan said he preferred thevfreedom to try cases the way he needed to. He didnt want to be a partner. It was really a convo yu could easily have missed. They definitely refer to it now and then.

[–] gaignun_1986 11 years ago

Because the Management never really liked him?

Only support Alan would get would be from Denny, who would most likely appoint him as his successor.

[–] syrena10 11 years ago

In season 2 episode 11 Alan goes to the partner's meeting to defend Jerry but Shirley interrupts him by saying,"Alan, I appreciate your input but you are not a partner." To which he replies, "That's because I can't be trusted."

[–] ObscureAuteur 10 years ago

I can't name the season or episodes offhand, but I definitely remember Alan Shore's partnership options being discussed more than once, and it being made clear that he was never going to be a partner, ever.

CB

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