I understand on some level the opinion of the partnership - namely that the candidates this year were not as talented as in years past. Call it a weak draft. However, I believe that at least SOMEONE would have been made up were it not for the state of the economy and the resulting effects on the firm. The message that this sends is that 1) in lean years, the partnership isn't interested in having to share with someone they don't have to share with, and 2) associates might as well start thinking about other options earlier. Neither is good for the firm.