in a law firm, the lawyers are partners or very important people to the firm even if they're not partners. i.e they're not cogs in a wheel that can be replaced

in a law firm, the lawyers are partners or very important people to the firm even if they're not partners. i.e they're not cogs in a wheel that can be replaced by 'management'. in as much engineers here, would like to believe otherwise -- most engineers at most firms are treated as replaceable / disposable resources.