Big Law Discussions
Billable Hours

Is travel time considered billable time?

What’s the typical ramp up period for a first year? I’m lucky to hit a few billable hours each day. Started in September.

I just lateraled from a firm where we didn’t enter any non-billable hours. At the new firm you do, like recruiting, business development, and bar events, etc. They also require a minimum of 6 hours entered for every day even if you’re on vacation. I’m confused on how to handle the non-billable codes. For example, what do y’all do on days where you bill more than 6 hours but also spend some time on these non-billable things? Do you enter it all so partners can see you spent time at a bar event?

I'm trying to find an in-house paralegal role, and I'm wondering if it's considered acceptable to say the reason I'm looking to move is to get away from billable hours. I think most people don't like billable requirements, but I'm wondering if this makes me sound lazy or unproductive. Thoughts?

Associates what time do you start and stop work, especially those who don’t have crazy billable hours?

I just want to know: does anyone here work in a true NewLaw firm that has moved away from billable hours.

Was quoted the following for an unknown company - can anyone tell me what this is supposed to be:

Consultant - $90-105K + O/T straight pay starting after 1860 billable hours + 5% commissions on any business referred

How to get engagement history on your Discover profile? Have more than 100 billable hours but still nothing on the profile

I’m only a few weeks into the in-house world and I have to say that it kicks ass. I get to spend real time learning about how our business works without worrying about billable hours. I’m sure I’ll become more jaded as I go on (as lawyers do) but I want to take a moment to appreciate it.

Hi I’m new to billables as I was on a non-billable account before. I have a question about billable hours for an SAE/AM roles, is 75% to 80% of your weekly hours the standard.

What is the billable hours target at Morgan Lewis for non-equity partners? Do NEP’s meet this every year? Do pro-bono or any other hours count to billable target? Thanks in advance!

Is it normal for a brand new associate to be on like 3/4 projects at a time? Like Each project has 10 hours of billable time and it a honestly just frustrating having to manage all of this stuff, and get used to working my first corporate job.

I’ve been working as a Paralegal a little over two months…and I don’t like it. This is not to say I don’t like being a paralegal (I love it), but I don’t understand how work at this firm is not distributed properly. How are attorneys giving legal assistants billable work? Also, it’s very frustrating to work in an environment that’s very inconsistent. They say “ask questions”, but what do you do when everyone’s answer is different. I’m just trying to figure out protocol, but it seems nonexistent.

To the post below- it is quiet, so I’ll bite!
Does anyone know about associate compensation at the regional Atlantic Canada firms? The the big ones have all been posting job ads for associates in the 3-5 year range. Any insight on salary and billable targets?

How many billable hours do you aim for above your firm’s billable target? On track to meet my target, but not sure how much I should push above target (or if necessary)

Any firms or companies specializing in healthcare consulting that wouldn’t have 280 billable hours a month?

Does your practice group make associates do mock motion arguments every week?! my practice group assigns random motions from old cases that i’ve never worked on for each junior associate to “argue” every week….

I feel like this is a huge waste of billable time, and also patronizing. I understand we need to learn, but why not do mock arguments with our current caseload?! this is abnormal? I think i landed in the wrong firm.

Note: this is non-billable work

How do you guys manage your billable hours? I usually work 6 hrs a day and breaks account for 2 hrs a day. I can’t really work for 8 hours straight but the 10 extra hours per week shows as wasted time and I’m getting more billable work to account for that. Its probably going to be work I’ll have to do in the evenings or weekend

I run a boutique firm but before that was in house and I don’t understand minimum billable hours. Can someone please explain why the partners hold attorneys accountable for failure to give them work? I require my staff to get the work done timely and effectively but I also know what business there is and when we’re slow I don’t punish them for my failure to give them work.

Does anyone have any insight into the Delaware market? Comparing 1st year offers from Richards Layton Finger and Young Conaway. I’m interested in M&A and Securities work. Any insight into the culture, billable hours, non billable hour requirements, bonus, practice area prestige, exit options at either is greatly appreciated.

It’s hard to trust the partners/leadership when they want us to return to office as being better when we increase offshoring? Also, the pressure on billable hours when all that really matters is how much our fixed labor costs vs. how much we can bill (which is usually fixed fee or at least a range) and the fixed labor costs of offshoring is significantly cheaper so the hours don’t matter. Am I mistaken by this viewpoint?

Junior consultant for 5 mths and have done 90% training and shadowing. I’ve asked for billable work many times but to no avail. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I take initiative to ask for work and have volunteered for billable items. Received positive feedback for the 10% billable (4hrs/week) but not getting more. I want to speak to my manager but often get responses that sound like she doesn’t really care. What can I do to improve this? Should I leave?

Can you share first year salary for midsize firms? I'm in NJ, but curious to hear other markets. Also billable targets? Thanks!

Why are billable hours the associates’ responsibility when partners control the work? Genuinely confused on how someone can actively seek work, not receive any, and then get blamed for low hours. . . Am I missing something?

I’ve found myself at an agency that exemplifies every complaint I’ve ever seen about strategy before and never really understood.

Nice, smart people who are directionless and take up way too many billable hours to get us absolutely nowhere helpful.

I’ve been a freelance print production designer for many years, and usually on-site in the before times. Now I work remote, and am finding it uneasy dealing with billing. Before I always billed hourly, which made sense, but it’s becoming an issue now. Some companies don’t have a full days’ work, so it seems wrong to bill full days, and it allows me to juggle projects for different companies, but my billable hours are down. I know I should bill a daily rate, but not sure that will fly. Thoughts?

RTO cuts my billable hours down by a third. Why do firms hate money

Thinking of McCarter & English - what’s the firm like? What are the billable requirements?

Worked 19+ billable hours yesterday. I’m struggling keeping my eyes open this morning.

I'm a long time prosecutor getting into the ID game and billable hours. Are there any resources out there that can help me get more effective/efficient without spending months/years learning the hard way? Some days I'm at the office 10 hours, took virtually no breaks and yet only bill 7. 🤬

Any insights on Frankfurt Kurnit? I’ve seen a few posts on here but people don’t give any real details. Any info is helpful: billable hours, partners, atmosphere, opportunity for growth, etc.

Is a $60K base salary with a $30/billable rate or $100K flat salary better? Assuming 80-90% utilization for both. There are other variables of course, but in terms of salary alone, which would you take?

Do you guys still get paid working over your usual salaried hours? Like as long as I can get billable hours I get paid for all those hours. For example if I commute to a client site or even work 12 hours at a client site I can still get paid my hourly rate.

When is biglaw capping billable hours to ensure associates' well-being, as recommended by the New York State Bar Association? Until when are we going to ignore evidence based recommendation to ensure profits? For a more human work environment that values people with something other than money.

How hard is it to get promoted to a manager at EYP? What are the standards and do you have to hit the billable hours goal (given there are inevitable bench time between projects). Thanks!