Alright all. What are we grooving to while churning out these late night billable hours? Always looking for some new tunes to break up the deafening clacking of my keyboard at midnight.

What are firm’s known billable requirements? Is there a ramp up period?

Does industry have billable hours? At the big 4, we are required to work a certain number of hours each week and if we spend too much time on anything we are questioned on why it took so long. Is that a thing when you go in industry?

If you are a first year in a stub year, and significantly under billable hours requirement, do firms typically still give pro rated bonus? Do first year stub associates really ever hit their pro rated hours in those 2-3 months?

How does your firm measure utilization? I work for a small boutique that defines it as utilization = number of billable hours/2,080 and full bonus payout occurs at 80% plus.

If you asked to be considered for early promotion and didn’t get it (despite being highly rated, exceeding billable goal, etc) would you look elsewhere? Is it right to be angry about it? I don’t want to spin myself up unnecessarily if it’s unjustified

How many billable hours in a month does it take for you to think you are billing a lot?

Recently lateraled as a public defender in HCOL area to ID in LCOL area for $$$. I’ve been at the job a little over a month. My concerns are that I’m getting very little guidance or mentorship, and I’m worried about not hitting billable hours (2000 requirement but I am just over 80 for the first month). I am only in charge of a ~5 cases atm and struggle with figuring out the next steps, etc. I’ve met all my deadlines that have come up. Thoughts or advice?

Are any other paralegals struggling with billable hour requirements? I have 5 years of experience in corporate transactions, M&A, and real estate work, and have never had billable hour requirements. I'm in a new job now where I do and I'm nowhere near meeting them. I'm getting a lot more admin work than billable work, and it's stressing me out.

There’s a practice group that I’ve been trying to find work in but whenever I volunteer to help, I always get roped in to do non billable work. In the beginning it was fine but now I’m feeling it’s never going to amount to actual work. Any tips to get more involved without all the non billables and how to approach this gently?

Had 2 hours of billable work today 💀

If you do billable work on a given PTO/vacation day, do you still count that day as vacation? Or do you get that vacation day "back"? Or do you only get the part that you billed "back"? (Or some other option.)

How many billable hours do people in prosecution tend to average each month? I’ve gone through waves of feeling like my billable hours requirement is reasonable to feeling like I’m drowning and can’t possibly do it for that long.

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’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?

Is it just me or the average billable work in infrastructure transactions has blown off steam in the last couple of weeks?

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)?

Getting over heartbreak and having a full time job is torture lol. My boyfriend and I just broke up after almost a year of being together. It was such a beautiful relationship but ultimately he just didn’t love me. I love him so much. My mind knows that I deserve reciprocal love and I’m worthy, but I feel physically ill. My body hurts, my stomach is in knots, my head hurts. How is it that I have to mend a broken heart but also meet my billable hours lmao

Received a job offer. Was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on a concern I had about it. It's an entry level position, and I don't have much experience. The billables are 2040 a year. For billable hours in civil litigation and insurance defense, is 2040 hours for a 1st year associate on the high end in this field for a small or midsize firm? It seems like most attorneys I know have minimum requirements of around 1800. The compensation is around 80k a year.

Any insight into Jackson Lewis NYC office? Compensation, billable hours, WLB? I would be a 2-3 year

So I was a 5th year associate in nyc making 100 k a year 2k billable hours.. I decided to leave for the role Im in now.. my old countered to keep me at 115k (which was like pulling teeth for them) but I left anyways now I find out that they offered a 7th year 150 k and a partner title should I be offended that they didn’t even try more with me

What are some realistic exit opportunities? I’ve been doing insurance/damage loss this whole time. Wouldn’t mind doing the same thing either but I just need a pay increase

I have an offer accepted from Elevance 125k (Anthem) and w a good team and seems that WLB would be ok. Also, Amazon hiring manager wants to interview me for a job. Is just a hiring manager int. so obvi nothing guaranteed. Salary if offered will be more than 150k. My question is should I accept the interview and see where it goes? Is it really worth it to proceed with a company like Amazon for 25k+. I live in CA so $ is imp but I do have a toddler so WLB is also imp. Both role are Sr. MGR.

2nd year here. Looking to lateral from a mid-sized regional firm to another WNY firm-specifically in the M&A/Corporate practice. Anyone have any good insights into big law firms with satellites in WNY (Buffalo in particular) or other regional firms? Barclay Damon, HS&E etc.

Looking for a group that values training and mentorship

Looking for a general salary range for big four senior managers with 10-15 years industry experience?

Only for men:

How do you deal with a best friend breakup?

I know friendship breakups between men are not talked about openly, but I had to.

Best friend was a Male too

Let's make this group better. Suggestions?

Thinking to drop a few YT videos on fashion, clothing, grooming etc

I’m interviewing for a GC role at a company that’s never had in-house counsel before. I’ve never been a GC - what questions should I be asking?

Just started a PM job and 7 weeks into the role my manager is surprised I had not designed a roadmap. Is this bad?

What are the perks of joining Oracle ? Like Broadband reimbursement, monitor , mobile, wfh set up etc ?

Which Big 4 is “best” for digital consulting for asset & wealth management clients?

What’s people opinion on mediocrity? Like wouldn’t it be so easy to just coast forever, like a nice cosy life, with little to not professional growth.

Are the reports of the US running out of diesel in the next few weeks accurate? And if so, how will we transport food or anything else from one state to another???

What does QRMTE - expectations not met signify? How does it affect?

How do you know if someone likes you in the beginning of dating? I met this guy online who I thought was cute and we went on a few dates. He always texted me right after the date and always initiates another date right after or within a day. He’s been sweet to me (ie when I was packing for a trip, he noticed there’s dirty dishes in the sink and he just started washing them for me) but he never texts in between dates and doesn’t really initiates much physical contact (he reciprocates when I do)

Is firm travel back up to pre covid levels?

Can you sell your used shrm cp books from the learning system? If so where?

Hello

What is notice period for EY GDS? (60/90 days)

Hi Folks, I have an offer from IBM. They told me that variable component is not written in CTC breakup but you will get some amount each year

Is it so ?

For those that have no desire to ever go in-house, what are the reasons other than the pay cut? Or is that the only reason?

Senpais, looking back, if you had known more about your specialty, would you still have chosen it? If not, which specialty would you have preferred to enter? And why?

About to finish my first year. I’m a specialist. Only going to hit 65% of my hours (took a 4 week vacation cause of wedding/hm).

I never say no to work and i have fantastic reviews, and the head of my practice (with whom I work a lot for) has great things to say about me.

I’ve been fully utilized starting ~June, but first few months were slow. Am i fine?!

Need help: I got an in house counsel offer for a venture fund. I’m a 4th year. 275 50 bonus 50 options every year. Full benefits covered work anywhere. I’m panicking this is dead end and I’ll never move on and I should stay in biglaw. Am I crazy? Am I stuck in biglaw mindset?

How did you give notice you were lateraling to people you like? Particularly if you haven't been there that long?

I'm lateraling to another firm because frankly I think the management of this one is terrible, but the people (and individual partners) I actually work with are awesome. I've only been here for about 18 months, so I imagine that short time frame will make it extra awkward 😬

Do we need a union to stop partners from emailing us after 7:30 pm?

Hi boys & girls!

Joined a big firm (Big4) not long a go and starting to feel like I got a good grip on my current work.

I've always been very technical, so I think that the only thing I am missing now is making sales. (I really wanna make partner)

Can any seasoned lawyer share tips and materials (i.e. books) which can help?

Would it be a good idea to join a Social Club where potential clients spend time? (gym/tennis/paddel/events)

Any advice welcome!

There’s a practice group that I’ve been trying to find work in but whenever I volunteer to help, I always get roped in to do non billable work. In the beginning it was fine but now I’m feeling it’s never going to amount to actual work. Any tips to get more involved without all the non billables and how to approach this gently?

Is it worth leaving big law for a FAANG job? Probably a $50k pay cut plus lose the partner track option for future. I'm probably 3 years away from making partner. Have a friend there already. Heard work life balance is better but comp not as good and lower ceiling. Thoughts?

Are there any books or other resources that mid levels/seniors/counsel/partners on here have found helpful for the project management / managing junior attorney aspects of your job?

I am not finding a lot of stuff written for lawyers specifically , but there is a lot directed at “managers” in business generally that I imagine could be applicable.

First year: how long without a full ramp up before I should worry? I’m sub-250 hours since I started (3.5 months) and the firm/group are both busy. Other first years in my group are mixed. Worried I’m missing the reps that first years are getting at other firms. Enjoying the freedom while I have it, but I’m still thinking this is odd. Any advice, action steps, anecdotes, etc. appreciated.

Any thoughts on NRF (Norton Rose Fulbright) in D.C.?

I know that some other associates at my level are approximately 30% behind other associates in hours on a month to month basis. Yet all of these associates say they are “at capacity”, and myself and another associate still end up being assigned work instead of them. How do we handle this? For reference, all associates are around the firms minimum requirement, it’s just that a few of us are 30+% over and it is leading to burnout.

Poll for folks who went in-house from Big Law:
1. When did you leave Big Law?
2. Where did you go? (Big Tech, Biotech, Startup,or company name if you feel comfortable)
3. What was your base salary?
4. Did you get equity at the new company and how much?
5. Advice for juniors?
Thank you so much!
Background: I was talking to a fellow Big Law junior associate (we’re 2nd years) about career goals and progression, we both want to go in-house but realized we don’t know alot about compensation

Is it a fail of character leaving biglaw? I want to leave, but despite the constant stress and suffering, I can’t avoid feeling like it’s my fault or that maybe I’m over exaggerating how I feel. All my colleagues feel ridiculously happy, I’m the grinch one that’s never enjoying the grind (but the grind is hard and competitive, very competitive) :( any thoughts? Is there future after quitting biglaw so young?

Who’s working on the twitter acquisition? The dataroom has to be nuts.

Missed an email from last week. Told client no comments back and partner was like “yes didn’t you see that email”? Happy Tuesday!

I’m a true night-owl that begins thinking clearly about 5 PM. I often send projects out after midnight. Early morning emails and calls are an adventure. Has anyone else had to work through this issue? Fight it or embrace it?

Let’s talk speed reading. I’m a slow reader and listened to a podcast recently on speed reading. I’m intrigued. Who here speed reads? How did you learn those skills, and what types of documents do you speed read in practice? I do mostly litigation and am thinking that speed reading would help with research but maybe not things like doc review where you need to review for both responsiveness and privilege.

If you do billable work on a given PTO/vacation day, do you still count that day as vacation? Or do you get that vacation day "back"? Or do you only get the part that you billed "back"? (Or some other option.)