Legacy executives may be miffed, but young trainees are speeding toward the partner perch, thanks to artificial intelligence.
One set of business tasks artificial intelligence has already mastered should also help junior executives become a partner in record time.
That’s the takeaway from a handful of major global consulting firms who say time-dragging tasks that normally saddled junior team members like reconciling financial reports, reviewing compliance documents word for word, or steering tax and legal documents through to the finish line, are now being handled in record time by AI tools and applications.
As brand-new management recruits – and even interns – handle these traditionally tedious tasks, that leaves advanced junior executives (i.e., who’ve been with a company for two- or three years) more time to pitch clients and upsell existing customers. That’s where a potential young partner can shine and get noticed by upper management.
“It’s a real balance because there is a great deal of benefit for learning by doing some of these documents, but do you need to do that for two years?” said Jeff Westcott, global director of innovation and practice technology at the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, in comments to Bloomberg. “Probably not. Once you’ve done it three or four times, you’re comfortable.”
A Different Timetable
Historically, it takes anywhere between 10 and 17 years (on average, and depending on the company’s pedigree) to make partner, according to the UK-based Law Society. AI promises to change that timeline significantly.
“We are trying to take years off of the time it takes for somebody from when they’re hired to when they become a partner,” said Jeff Wong, chief innovation officer at Ernst & Young told Bloomberg. “We are specifically targeting certain accelerations and I know we have been successful along that pathway.”
The data varies on how much time artificial intelligence tools save in handling commonplace business tasks like disseminating complex data or fully reviewing legal documents. KPMG estimates AI can save a junior management staffer 15 hours per month while the Nielson Norman Group says AI improved office worker productivity by 66%.
Whatever figure you choose, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that AI is boosting productivity in not only a positive way for companies but also for junior executives trying to climb the career ladder – and who seem likely to do so faster than ever.

Brian O’Connell, a former Wall Street bond trader and best-selling author, is a prominent figure in the finance industry. With a substantial background as an ex-Wall Street trader, he has authored two best-selling books: ‘The 401k Millionaire’ and ‘CNBC’s Creating Wealth’, demonstrating his profound knowledge of finance and investing.
Brian is also a finance and business writer for esteemed national platforms and publications, including CNN, TheStreet.com, CBS News, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes, and Fox News.