i think the major reason for them to aim for money is because of the heavy loan they take on, same as med school, the ones who take the mcat, isn't that the same ?
I have seen Chinese lawyers who have made partners here in a US firm, although they are very very rare. There is nothing impossible. I always wonder where those IB guys would end up after 10 or 12 years of work. Obviously, they get burned out real quick because of the intensity of their work.