Big Law Discussions
Billable Hours

I’ve been off my last billable project for about a month, but my firm has had me putting in full days to work on important internal initiatives and business development that are being taken very seriously, and that include deadlines, etc. very similar to the work I’d do while on a project. Is it likely I’ll be laid off if this continues for another couple of months? How long do you think my firm might let me stay employed like this if they continue to have this much non-billable work for me?

How do you guys schedule your hours?
Say I need to hit 200 hours per month. Currently I take the amount of working days in a month (M-F) and divide it by 200 to get how many hours I need to bill per day. For example, May has 20 working days, so I need to bill 10hrs./day M-F.

I’ve done exactly that thus far and have been able to stick to a pretty consistent schedule. But I know a lot work on weekends. For instance, if I worked Saturdays too there are 25 billable days which means 8hrs/day.

Anyone having a horrible time meeting billable targets during quarantine? I haven’t been able to focus at all. Without much contact from my office, I feel like it’s just me, and everyone else is billing just fine. That can’t be true though, can it? I mean maybe some people. I’m so far off my requirement and worried. 🤦🏼‍♀️😭

Thoughts on leaving biglaw to work as in-house counsel in a family small business? I’ve been a litigation associate for 4 years and don’t think it is for me (billable hours, work-life balance, etc.). My father would like me to join his real estate development co. I have no student loans, mortgage, or kids FWIW.

Hey folks! Hope everyone is safe and sound. Who is working on billable work and who is on the bench ?

Anyone else not really have any billable work stuck at home? It's giving me mad to stress to have nothing to do and feel like I'm being judged for this. There is little work and I'm doing trainings

Is anyone paid a percentage of the billable hours they bring in from clients they bring in. My firm pays me as a “1099 eat what I kill” wonder if this is done anywhere else?

How many are experiencing more anxiety than usual? What’s causing the added anxiety, besides lower than expected billable hours?

Does anyone else feel anxious about recording billable hrs? This is my first agency job, and I feel anxiety/guilt if I took too long to complete something, not billable enough in a day, etc.

I thought my job was secure when this WFH started. I’m getting more apprehensive each day. Many people were forced to take PTO (not me for the time being) and billable work is dwindling by the minute

Is anyone experiencing a reduction of billable hours due to less assignments?

Guilty or Not Guilty of Slacking?
The sitch: Father of two, 3.75 and 1.5 y/o. Wife is a teacher WFH during 5 hrs a day. I am working from home as well, just can't get in all the billable hours.

Making hard push to go in-house with a startup, billable work has dried up.

Question: what’s a good salary for VP Mkt & Sales? And commission?

Firm just cut 100% of all our perks. This is 100% fair and I’m fine with it (I’d be fine with a pay cut of ~25% too), but billable work is dwindling. I think layoff are on the horizon (...)

How has working from home impacted your billable hours? What we’re your best and worst days for billing since WFH started?

How are partners generally responding to the foreseeable slowdown in billable hours?

What is your weekly billable goal during this wfh time?

My firm sent an email yesterday saying their tracking billable hours DAILY. It’s either they don’t think we’re working from home or about to have some layoffs 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’ve noticed that work is creeping into the later hours now that people no longer “go home.” What are your agencies doing to combat it since leaders are worried about billable hours more than ever?

I’m a judicial clerk and was offered an associate position. I received the info regarding billable hours, salary, and benefits. What are other things I should know about before deciding to accept?

Boss move: convert all the T&E spend our clients are about to save to additional billable work. Anyone done this yet?

How do your firms compensate rainmakers/ marketing partners? Low billable hours and large bonuses based on the business generated?

I’m wondering whether and how other firms credit time spent by associates on business development for purposes of meeting the annual billable hours target. Is such time fully credited?

My HR rep told me that to apply for your CPA license in MA you only need 1 year of work experience, not 2009 billable hours. Didn't sound right- can anyone confirm/deny?

Trying to explain billable hrs to hubs. I billed 160 this month, which he said “is only 40 hr weeks” (true) - but how many hrs do you figure you “work” or are in the office to bill 150?

Tech implementation folks, what is your utilization target (hrs/week)? How many hours do you actually work per week (incl. admin/non-billable work)?

Tech implementation folks, what is your utilization target (hrs/week)? How many hours do you actually work per week (incl. admin/non-billable work)?

I am thinking of switch from plaintiff side work to defense work in employment litigation. Has anyone made this switch? Did you regret? We’re billable hours too much to handle? More in comments.

Most billable hours you’ve got or have seen in a month? Location and line of service?

Opinions? Management now requiring everyone to have 45 billable hrs per week, not including mandatory concepting n pitch work. Most people participating in 2-3 initiatives at same time. Is this normal

Busy season check - rate your happiness from 1 to 10 and your average billable hours per week (10 being like a rock star happy) 🤠

Big Four auditors - how much billable time do you avoid entering during busy season? Why?

Am I being overworked/underpaid as a first year associate at a midsize firm in Chicago? ($67,5 salary, 2100 billable hours) it feels like a good starting point but I’m uprooting my life to start here

Have any of the independent contractors in this bowl ever had a kick-back clause in their contracts - meaning, have you had to pay a rebate/kick-back based off of your previous year's billable time?

Obligatory financial info post. 1) size of firm, 2) billable requirements, 3) salary, 4) bonus, 5) quality of life, 6) debt, and and 7) family/married/single. Go!

To those of you who have high billable requirements and are single, how do you manage your time? Especially those with pets.

Can people share their thoughts on Littler? Salary/year, region, work/life balance, billable hours, firm culture, etc. Asking for a friend :)