The Firm | Themes & Symbolism

The Firm Significant Topics

The characters in The Firm frequently debate the problem of what loyalty costs. Bendini, Lambert & Locke buy loyalty from the attorneys they hire, eventually paying them so much and so completely co-opting their lives that the young associates become willing partners, too consumed with enjoying consumables to worry about the morals of their practice. The wife of an associate explains to Abby, Mitch's wife: "It's a question of loyalty. If all your money comes from one source, then you tend to be very loyal to that source. The firm demands extreme loyalty. Lamar [her husband] says there's never talk of leaving. They're all happy, and either rich or getting that way." The firm seeks out people to whom money will matter; the character type they recruit suggests some psychological insight on Grisham's part in creating the firm's methods.

The firm periodically scours the top law schools for...
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