Mamas, don't let yore babies . . .

[Occhidiangela]

When CEO's of big companies get bonuses, it is often the stockholders/directors rewarding them for being able to squeeze more blood out of a rock. Your partners are basically your stockholders and your board, and so have the 'stockholder' view of money outlay against produce, in your instance successful cases, sold on the market. Fewer successful cases means less repeat future business.

It's sems to me a simple calculus.

Wundergore's comments on paralegals may or may not represent an inefficiency in your office, but when you look at it, a paralegal costs as well. It's yet another issue of managing the billable hour. When you lose a lawyer to burnout, you also lose his 'corporate knowledge.'

My best wishes that you don't go crazy. :)

PS: some day over a beer, I might wax poetic about doing more with less on a ship at sea when there are no spare parts and you get no replacements for experienced engine mechanics, but that is a different sector that the one you are working in.

EDIT: oops, hit post instead of preview the first time. Sorry.