Do any of my fellow criminal defense attorneys feel like they were in a completely different profession than 98% of the attorneys that you know who do civil or transactional work? I read the posts about billable hours and the cost of litigation etc... I am here getting flat fees that range anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars. I am constantly chasing the bad payers on a payment plan but it seems 1000 times better than a billable hour. 

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I'm in BL right now but worked at a firm before law school with this fee structure. I agree it's better than billables because you can focus more on the quality of work and your efficiency rather than working as many hours as possible. Still was stressful trying to get paid, though.

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Get your money up front. All I have to add, which isn’t much.

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No payment plans. Would rather do a lower fee to get it up front. Or client can finance it themselves. I’m not a 0% interest lender.

My husband works on contingency. No billable hours is an upside, but the downside is sometimes you don't get paid anything at all.

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Some of you really only bill 17/1800 hours? Are you just busy doing non-billable work or you just don’t have enough work coming to you? If it’s because you don’t have enough work does that mean you have your evenings and weekends to yourself too? Could you maybe help the rest of us out who never get either?

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I know that it likely “depends” and varies from firm to firm but does anyone have any insight on (or experience with) whether firms rely on “total billable hours” or “total billable hours credit” to determine whether hours have been met/bonus applies?

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How is the billable rate for each associate determined at your firm? Does everyone in the same class bill out at the same rate?

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Apps for keeping track of billable hours?

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What percentage of associates meet the billable hours requirement at your firm?

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Need insight into Butler, Weilhmuller, Katz, Craig, Tampa office. I have an interview for an attorney position and wanted to know billable requirements and office environment. What there WFH policy is if they have it. Any insight would be appreciated.

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I feel like billable hours discourage attorney efficiency and incentivizes folks to drag work out or take longer to complete assignments (excluding tangible due dates).

Have firms seriously considered other ways to measure productivity outside of the billable hour?

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How were your billable hours the first couple of weeks after you lateraled?

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I’ve worked the last nine years for my state legislature as an attorney analyst, drafting and analyzing proposed legislation. I’ve primarily worked on health professional regulations. Next year, I will apply for student loans forgiveness under the public service program and would like a change. I know others who have gone into lobbying/government relations, but I would like to find other options to pursue. I’ve never done billable work so not sure if law firm life is for me. Any suggestions?

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Question re: salary. I’m thinking about accepting an offer at a small (4-6 attorneys) transactional firm. I would primarily be working on NDAs for clients. The role sounds great (no billable hours, fully remote, flexible hours/ can work from anywhere); however, the salary is $70K. I’m a new attorney, with only one year of experience. Does this salary seem low? If so, any advice on what someone in my position should ask for?

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Some good news after almost 11 months of applying and interviews and lots of rejections finally got an offer! In NYC small firm, ex big law folks, no billable hours, niche practice area, appearance of forwarded thinking firm, remote till who knows when, emphasis on pro bono initiatives and building book of business. The catch salary. Was making around 140k at last firm with 1800 billable. Offer is 85k and revist to bump to around 100k in several months after review (plus discretionary bonus)

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I have a question about mid-size Philadelphia law firms. Does anyone have any insight about what life is like (culture, pay, billable hours, cases, WFH, perks, etc.) as a junior partner/senior associate/of counsel in the litigation department at the following firms: Montgomery McCracken, Schnader Harrison, Stradley Ronon, Dilworth Paxson, Klehr Harrison?

When your firm requires billable hours, how are they calculated? Actual vs realized (I.e. what you put on your billing sheet vs what is billed to the client). Does your firm differentiate? Which number do they go by? My mind is somehow not comprehending how some big law hours are under my small firm requirement?

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What's up everyone? I saw a salary survey posted earlier. What do y'all think I should make at a litigation boutique that handles primarily business litigation on a contingency fee? No billable hours.

Went from a big firm to work for a smaller firm. The people in the smaller firm are protective of their work and are good by their work too. I no longer feel chaos or stress. I am treated with respect and my schedule is more normal. I am even working more billable hours than before, but it feels like a seamless experience. I don’t work then past 5pm or anything out of the ordinary for this time of the year. I am so grateful!

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My firm has a collections budget (80% of your billable rate x 1850 hours) and an hourly budget that must be met in order to be eligible for a bonus. The firm cares very little about originations and will reward someone for making their collections over someone who brings in new work. I missed my collection budget due to some odd timing with a client, but originated more than all my peers so no bonus for me. I’ve been at this same mid level firm for 9 years and it’s all I know. Is this normal??

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Has anyone transitioned from Tax to RM? Could you share your experience and pros/cons of the change? Really want to get out of client facing/billable work, but I like my firm. Thank you!

77 hours from the next super bonus tier. I have about 25 pro bono hours that I could do, and I have about 12 billable hours that I will do. No real Christmas plans. Worth scrounging up those last 40?

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What are your current billable hours and salary? Is anyone actually on a good ratio with this - would love to hear

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Are utilization targets (%) always based on 40 hrs/wk, I.e 90% utilization = avg 36 billable hrs/wk?

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Considering a move from institutional to retail after 20+ years, any thoughts or advice from anyone that's made the change?

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This scholarly lady would love if you helped her mom open her dms with some likes!📚

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Well pretty summs up the double standards within the EU

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What’s the Nashville market like for all service lines?

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Anyone have experience in drafting pitch decks for revolving lines of credit? Would love to hear or see the basic format/structure!

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Anyone attend a 3% conference with white male leadership? How was that?

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Friday afternoon vent: we hired an in-house litigation attorney two months ago. I was expecting to have to teach him the company/industry. Instead he needs in depth computer training.

Examples of things he has needed my help with:

1. Saving a word doc as a pdf
2. Bookmarking a webpage
3. Creating a new folder in his documents folder
4. Printing emails to pdf for exhibit use
5. He refuses to even download Adobe
6. And has barely even tried to learn the main program we use for tracking stuff.

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Who else is hodling IOTA? Do you plan to keep on hodling?

Looking for some guidance on Australia PR process. Been in the US for a decade and half and still on H-1B visa with lot of uncertainties. Hoping to apply for Australia PR and move.

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I did 1 minute wall sits today during calls, my legs are still shaking!

What’s the average pay for room division coordinator?

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I hit a breaking point today with my current role. I’ve been unhappy for a long time but held out in search for the “right job”. After extensive consideration there’s not a scenario in which (cont)

Yesterday was my first appraisal. I was welcomed and told that I am not eligible for promotion. But then again it was acknowledged that the work that I do is great. The offered me a hike of 21% after 1year 2 months of work experience. I was initially hired at 6 lpa. I did not rebut and accepted it. What are the things I could have asked? Should I have negotiated more? What are the things that I can focus on in the next appraisal cycle? Want to know the thoughts of the experienced professionals.

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Infosys start calling its employees to office? or currently its WFH

Infosys

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Work from home has made me super lazy and not a morning person. When I go to my evening workout classes, I barely have energy. Any tips to increase my energy and make me a morning person!?

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Anyone know what Toronto ad schools are doing for portfolio reviews now?

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So I'm a single dad, which I feel can be tough sometimes - doesn't fit with gender norms. It's the professional equivalent of not having baby changing stations in the mens room.

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What’s life like working at venture fund? I’ve only been at public operating companies but thinking of making move to VC fund that’s solely funded by one billionaire. Would love to hear pros/cons from others who have gone this route.

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Hi fishes..
Hope u are doing great.
I'm serving my notice period in TCS, LWD is 03 may 2022, can u pls help me with the referrals, I'd really appreciate it.

Yoe-03 years
Skills- cloud computing, AWS, IaaS, Linux administration, MySQL

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2019 is to David Boies as 2017 is to Louis CK

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K&E signing bonus for 2019 lateral in funds?

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After you’ve pulled an all-nighter, how do you get through the next day? Caffeine? Exercise? Take a nap? Quit early?

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9months in at new firm that I moved for. Average rent within a 30 minute drive of the office is up over 60% (my current building has doubled). I got a 25% raise but am still likely not going to be able to live reasonably close. I’m the only employee that doesn’t own a home and am unsure how to raise the issue that i need to make more so i can live reasonably close to the office.

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Defendant filed a motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction. I have to now oppose this motion: where do I even begin because tbh defendant has a pretty lock argument

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Hi, everyone! I am extremely passionate about issues such as climate change and gun violence, and how money in politics leads to inaction and disinformation regarding these issues. Does anyone have any insight as to where I should be looking for employment opportunities? Practice areas, the type of organization, traditional vs. non-traditional law jobs? Any help or guidance would be appreciated. I really want to make a change. Thank you!

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How does on lateral into big law? Is it worth it?

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Easier to go from litigation to transactional or transactional to litigation? I’m currently in litigation but wondering if I I could make the switch later in my career.

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Need insight into Butler, Weilhmuller, Katz, Craig, Tampa office. I have an interview for an attorney position and wanted to know billable requirements and office environment. What there WFH policy is if they have it. Any insight would be appreciated.

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New Associate at small plaintiff’s employment law firm NYC If my goal is to work for a defense firm in the same field, how fast should I be going for the door? Or is it safe to stay and get exp first

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I hear a lot about people saying they'd like to go into banking. But most of the time it seems like they really mean PE, which seems like a long shot to me

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Here to restate the understated truth of our profession..

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What is a high paying JD advantage job? I have 3 years of experience as an attorney

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First (second?) year here, already hit hours for the year. Finally a slow week with little to no work on my plate. Someone help me fight the urge to let partners I have capacity.

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What would be Jerry West's best cause of action against HBO/Mckay for their negative portrayal of Mr. West in the fictional "Winning Time" series? (He is unlikely to prevail on a defamation claim, right?)

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My firm doesn’t let us invest in any crypto (nyc big law). Is this the case elsewhere or am I unlucky. I feel like I’m missing out

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This is the most basic question, so yep, I’m asking you to take it easy on me when you reply. I have been practicing for about 5 years total. I have been in civil practice for 2 years. These 2 years have been the most demoralizing, unfulfilling 2 years of my life. I have been giving myself pep talks to find the “positive” spin on it but firm life isn’t for me. I know networking is key but do you have some thoughts/suggestions on how to make an exit...crying at therapy is becoming too much.

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Leadership advice for young associates?

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Advice to avoid ethics violations and unauthorized practice of law in the following scenario. I am licensed to practice in PA and live in PA. Recently accepted a 100% remote non-legal role for a national org based in CA but does business in all states. No lawyers in house. Recently, they casually asked me to review and suggest language in govt contracts. Should I tell them I can't or possible opportunity to renegotiate a legal role in house but with CA license?

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Anyone have experience going through the interview process at the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office?

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