Attorneys have clients, but it's not the same thing... or, at least, it's not supposed to be. Attorneys can lose clients and some amount of income, but no client is supposed to have career-wrecking managerial power over an attorney.
Even for in-house corporate attorneys, their managers are other attorneys, all the way up to the general counsel, who answers to the board (not the CEO) itself; the board is the GC's client.
Of course, if you manage your client list badly and end up dependent on one client, you essentially have a boss. In theory, it's not supposed to be that way; in practice, obviously it can be. But the aspiration (lawyers answer only to their own) is noble.
Even for in-house corporate attorneys, their managers are other attorneys, all the way up to the general counsel, who answers to the board (not the CEO) itself; the board is the GC's client.
Of course, if you manage your client list badly and end up dependent on one client, you essentially have a boss. In theory, it's not supposed to be that way; in practice, obviously it can be. But the aspiration (lawyers answer only to their own) is noble.