system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5:Why do law firms use the partnership model?

I'm sure the partnership model works in a lot of situations, but what makes law firms so unique for this model to be the standard? Why aren't they run like 'normal' businesses with an owner/shareholders and salaried employees?
gpt
In modern times, it is legally restricted how lawyers can organize themselves--it's viewed as a bad thing for an attorney to be under control of a non-attorney shareholder for example, considering his special duties toward clients. But that doesn't really answer the historical question.

A lawyer is a typical example of a professional. He trades on his reputation, and it's all about his abilities. You cannot separate the service from the attorney providing it--being represented by John Doe is not the same as being represented by Richard Roe. So it makes sense for lawyers to be business for themselves, albeit with clerks or secretaries assisting them perhaps. 

A partnership is an extension of this model--you've got lawyers working together, but they're still individuals with clients specific to them, they just pool some of their capital and other business sources.