Big Law Discussions
Billable Hours

Does anyone here work at a PA firm that either doesn’t track billable hours and/or doesn’t use time sheets? If so, what do you do to evaluate performance?

Folks that got a prenup. How and where did you get it? We have spoken to a couple of lawyers and it simply seems to be a back and forth they want to do to rack up billable hours/complicate the issue. My SO and I pretty much know what we want. We are doing it mainly to protect my SOs inheritance. Looking for the simplest way to execute this. TIA for any advice.

I applied to various jobs. Two jobs in particular interested me. One job (ID) gave me an offer and I accepted. A second job (in house) contacted me a week after I accepted and wants a second interview. Pay is $17k more at the in house position and less billable hours (~175 less) Should I go on the second interview? I would start the new position I accepted (ID) before the second interview. Any advice would help, thanks.

Any insight into Nixon Peabody’s Long Island office? Billable hours, WLB, culture, etc?

No joke I have gotten like 40 hours of non billable work this week, wtf

How much are you pressured to finish projects under a certain number of billable hours. Does your boss - or do your account reps - begin a project by presenting an estimate that they hold fast to?

Ended August with 25 billable hours. Here’s to hoping no layoffs☹️

How many hours are we working this season? Our office just bumped us up to 60/hr billable work weeks

At your firm, can you still be eligible for a bonus if you don’t meet your billable requirement, under certain circumstances? Are elements like a slow start followed by a positive trend over the year, team workload, significance of contributions outside of billable hours and qualitative feedback taken into account if the hours are not there?

What do you do when you feel the goalpost has been/is being moved re: billable requirements? Like there's a spoken vs unspoken? I chose this job based on billables vs salary and what I'm being told I'm expected to do now is 20-30% (at least) > than what was initially agreed upon. Given my other life responsibilities, this is creating a huge strain & I feel like this is slowly getting harder & harder on my spouse & kids. I'm grateful to have lots of good work but not sure how to course correct.

I really wish that there was a way to see what the average billable hours is per associate at each firm. It's cool to say bonus threshold is only 1900, but means nothing when the average is 2100 per associate 🙃

I am probably going to end up with like 1200 billable hours this year. My mid year performance review was good and everyone I have talked to has had positive things to say but I am getting anxious again. Reaching out for work but I keep getting staffed on non billable matters. My group does seem to have had a very slow summer. First year. If there was a problem would I have some other indication besides the low hours?

With the various RTO rumors/fear out there and in the absence of spring/summer/fall(?) bonuses. Would you consider coming into the office more if your firm offered bonuses linked to days in the office (coupled with billable targets, of course)?

How many associates actually reach the annual billable hours requirement?

Corporate junior associate here. Do firms genuinely treat pro bono the same as billable work? I’ve billed around 200 hours pro bono this year and as we near our review cycle, I’m anxious about whether there’s such thing as too many pro bono hours.

Explain to me like I’m 5. Why does the monthly billable hours goal on things like Intellistat change month to month. I’m not hitting hours this year. Last month goal was 158. This months goal is 180.

Been practicing complex lit (employment and consumer class/representative actions) on the plaintiff side for last 6 years of my 7 year career. Just accepted a defense side offer, with a billable requirement/initial bonus eligibility of 1750 hours. I know billing is different on the defense side than simply recording hours toward a lodestar on the plaintiff side. How many "real" total hours is 1750 billable hours? I know it's supposed to be relatively low, but not sure what it really means?

Mostly to vent, but wonder if anyone else has had to deal with this…my team consists of a partner, shareholder, 3 associates, myself and a legal assistant. We have a busy docket, 70 active litigation files. For over a year I have been dealing with inexperienced legal assistants, mostly coming from other areas of law. The partner relies heavily on me to clean up the messes, fix the mistakes, etc., and HR is on me for doing too much admin, i.e., non-billable work.

Does anyone have a chart or list of firms and their required “all-in” billable hours and whether or not they pay market? I know Akerman is 2300 hours “all-in” and McDermott Will Emery is 2400 hours all in. Any insight into other firms? Such as Katten, McGuireWoods, etc. Thanks in advance.

Are you honest about your billable hours?

I’m thinking that I’m very close to an offer from Creative Planning Law, but hiring process has been very quick. I have the relevant experience and requirements for the position. I am told the position is remote, there’s unlimited PTO and no requirements (billable hours or otherwise), but I’m worried that the work life balance I’m being fed isn’t accurate. Thoughts on CP?

Anyone have any insight into BraunHagey in SF? Curious about reputation, “culture”, WLB, billable requirements, anything that comes to mind. Thanks in advance!

Looking to leave a govt job for a junior attorney role in a small workers comp defense firm. I have no experience in workers comp. How easy is it to learn the work and make 1850 billable hours? What future opportunities does this experience give?

I’m a 9th year in a mostly litigation-based practice group at a one-tier partnership firm. My group’s billable hours have been low the last few years, so making partner will be nearly impossible, and a counsel position is not viable long-term in my group. What’s the best option here if partnership is the ultimate goal? Try to get a NEP/counsel position at another firm, which is likely difficult in my market, or offer to take a class cut by a few years?

What does it mean when a firm doesnt have a required number of billable hours but has an expected target? Isnt it essentially the same thing…?

What is a good ratio of billable hours to total hours?

Obviously the "ideal" is 100%, but as the junior attorney at a small firm, I'm do the guy taking all the prospective client cold calls, and it can seriously cut into my day.

My goal has been to spend at least 75% of my time on billable work. Reasonable?

What should I look out for when leaving a state position to join a small firm as a junior attorney. What amount of billable hours are good for work life balance?

I have an informational interview with a Managing Director on Friday about a manager role. I currently serve in a client services role and do not have traditional consulting experience (billable hours, etc.). Additionally, while I’ve worked with McKinsey, Accenture, McKesson, and other teams on major projects, I don’t have experience putting together the strategy, more of a support function. Feeling a tad intimidated! Any tips would be so very appreciated!

How many billable hours did you have last year? And how much non billable time did you have?

What are average annual corporate associate billable hours at K&E? Actual billed hours across the board not minimum requirement. Curious what the actual corporate associate average there is.

My last day is end of next month, firm already has notice. I have approximately 2 billable hours of work a week if that until then. Do I ask for more? Do I enjoy this time? I know six weeks notice isn't typical but it's a long story and I wasn't pushed out. Leaving on good terms.

What’s the deal with RFPs? I’ve spent countless [non-billable] hours on several of them only to find out that I’m not included in the actual proposal (the document sent to the client showcasing the proposed case team). Is this normal?

How do I achieve 55 billable hours per week? Open for suggestions. ..

12:40pm Friday with 1.1 hrs of billable work for the day 🥶 anybody else having a lazy Friday?