Hi - I am currently working in one of the top coporate law firms in the UK doing transactional M&A work in a market that is quite turbulent. As such there is some down time and maneourving among associates to ensure that we get assigned to the "good" work. I am at a level where they start taking a view as to whether you are "partnership" material.

In such competitive environment and as it is considered "unusual" for lawyers from our firm to pursue further graduate study (particularly the MBA), asking a reference from any corporate partner in our team would be tantamount to submitting a letter of resignation - for them it would make no sense for a lawyer to purse the MBA unless it was to leave the firm. There would be less concern if it was further graduate study in law but to pursue an MBA would raise alarm bells, call for further explaintion and with our team/ partnership structure, the relevant partners would know. Work distribution between the time of request to the time of notification (should I get in) would be approx. 6 months.

As such, is it acceptable to request references from other associates who are only few years my senior? Would the adcoms be concerend or will it make my application weak if my application does not contain references from one of the partners?

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Tony