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So I've had 2 hiring managers and several recruiters from Amazon reach out to me about applying for some open positions with the company (android). I completed the coding assessment and now they want me to go through a round of 5 hour interviews next week. Is there a good chance I'll be hired if engineering managers are reaching out to me? I'm really not sure how badly I want to work for them and I don't want to be laid off months after being hired on. Anyone know what Amazon hiring is like?
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Me. Every single day. Since I started practicing.
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FWIW, I like the phrase “Review and analyze” instead of “read” because it is more lawyerly, IMHO
A1, I’m sorry your partners don’t provide feedback but I have been billing time over 10 years and those are all good action words :)
I write my descriptions as if I’m responding to the imaginary question from the client: “what the f... am I paying so much for?” So I try to make it purposeful. Such as, review case law in preparation for drafting motion; conference call with x regarding case strategy; review documents relating to Y issue, etc
Find some bills on similar matters and look at the entries and model yours on matters where time wasn’t cut. Easy way to figure out the nuances of what each partner likes as many differ on use of words like “regarding” or “e-mail/electronic correspondence” and so on
Avoid block billing. That means billing several different tasks in a single block of time (even if they are all related to one thing). Clients, insurance carriers, and courts like to see the time spent researching vs drafting vs editing, etc., as opposed to billing all of it under a 12 hour block of time. Or if you prepared for a hearing then argued the hearing, bill the preparation and the appearance separately. These are just some litigation examples.
Chief
I feel bad for those of you that can't/don't block bill. It's the only way to go.
Chief
Gotta make em as long as possible to describe the task performed.
Review [x]; analyze issues regarding same; conference regarding same; correspondence to client regarding same.
Rising Star
OP also depends on litigation vs transactional, client requirements and firm standards. However if you have been in your job more than 1 month, partners have seen your time entries and if no one has said anything, chances are you are meeting the firm’s standards.
Reference local rules, court rules, civil rules, operative court orders, etc, whenever possible. Example: corresponded with opposing counsel regarding document production dispute pursuant to [insert local rule requiring meet and confer]; prepared X in advance of complying with court’s order requiring Y be complete by DATE.
I have found the most helpful is to go directly to one of the partners and make sure you are billing how they want you to bill. Ask them if they have preferences or any specifics.
In all my billing narratives I include at the end “FOR PURPOSES OF _____” so the client understands why I have to do this (unless it’s self explanatory) ie, for purposes of updated defense strategy, initial case work up, for damages assessment, in preparation for ____ deposition/motion hearing, etc.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one: ask the partner you work for with the strictest billing requirements. I didn’t do this when I started out, but did it the first week when I lateraled to a new firm. I use that partner’s stringent requirements for phrasing, key words, etc., for all of my billing unless expressly told otherwise.
A couple other tips:
- If something is taking you longer than it feels like it should, get more granular. So rather than 4 hours of “Research in support of motion to dismiss,” break it down into research topics like: “Research re standards for dismissal of declaratory relief claim (1.2 hrs); research re proper subjects for declaratory relief (.8 hrs)” and so on.
- My personal rule of thumb is to try not to have a single entry longer than 3.5 hours, because it’s very unlikely that I spent 3.5 hours doing one thing. I was probably switching between reviewing background documents, drafting a motion, and doing supplemental research for that motion. Also, then if your time is going to be written off, you might only get a few things written off rather than an entire block.
- Unless you’re entering your time directly into the system, make your personal time keeping entries descriptive of what you actually did (e.g., “replying to emails from partner and senior associate re substantive revisions to motion to dismiss, additional research topics, and possible additional arguments or defenses”). Then make it sound bill-appropriate later (e.g., “Strategize re arguments in opposition to motion to dismiss; communications with [firm] team re same”).
I would ask for a copy of pre-bills, edits, and final bills that go out to the client(s) at issue. You’ll see the various changes made to ensure your entries utilize the preferred language, and seeing the final bills also helps you see how others phrase/document their tasks so you know how to word your entries going forward. Also, be sure to read the client billing guidelines. A quick 5-10 minute read will let you know what things are/aren’t allowed (and you can avoid getting time cut for non-approved billing).
Rising Star
One thing to keep in mind is that bills can raise privilege/discovery issues. I was always pretty careful to not put anything in a billing narrative I wouldn’t want to see in a demonstrative in front of a jury. (Such as “telephone call with x to discuss his [obviously damaging admission].”)
Rising Star
I agree with most but I would never use “Strategize” lol it just sounds like you are playing around with idead
I use it instead of “confer” when speaking with other intra firm lawyers. Not sure what idead is.
I asked my partner for guidance and she just told me “yeeeeea... get your billing up”. Absolutely no guidance. Thank you to everyone that replied! Definitely bookmarked this 😁