How are partners generally responding to the foreseeable slowdown in billable hours?

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I'm willing to chip and take a pay cut to see that we keep good associates. And all staff members.

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Slashing spending and forgoing draws, rethinking use of hours, trying to save jobs while being real about business and navigating the new normal.

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Not hiring some folks we otherwise we’re going to. Trying to make sure existing associates stay busy and aren’t freaked out by more mouths to feed.

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Deferring distributions, cutting discretionary expenses, working hard to balance workloads between very busy and very slow groups, helping clients whose businesses are falling apart, communicating regularly to calm nervous staff and associates, etc. And interestingly the only ATL story I’ve seen announcing a firm’s deferral of partnership distributions is for a publicly traded firm in the UK, which was legally required to make the disclosure. Wondering why ATL publishes a name-naming piece about 3 seconds after a firm impacts staff or associates in any way but rarely if ever runs anything naming names when only partners take a hit. 🤔

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Does anyone run a business in addition to their firm? I’m a solo and I’m doing pretty well with about 60-70 billable hours a month. Though that leaves a lot of downtime. Curious if anyone has any second businesses that require about 20 hours a week. Not looking for passive income or franchise ideas though.

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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?

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I have an interview with Korn Ferry for an associate principal role and am curious about others’ experiences have been with work-life balance here. Also, I have an idea of what I should be compensated in this type of role, but any insights on how they pay compared to others would be helpful. Are you traveling during the pandemic or have client interactions been virtual? Lastly, if you are a consultant here, are you on billable hours? My current consulting role is not - so this would be new.

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Idk, maybe it’s time we bring these engineers and techs down. If my 🧠 links to a 💻 , all of my non-billable work will come to light. 😤

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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?

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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?

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

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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.

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

Is 150 billable hours per month little/average/a lot?

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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?

Does anyone know the billable hours goal for managers at EY?

likehelpfulfunny

What is a material billable hours difference from your peers at the same group? If I bill 150 less a year than another associate should I be worried?

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I’m a first-time prospective lateral likely to get an offer shortly. I just received a lateral questionnaire that requests billable hours, rates, fees collected, etc. for the last three years. Forgive my ignorance but is this normal/standard? Do people actually answer these honestly? One of the reasons I’m leaving my firm is there isn’t enough work in my group so of course my hours are low.

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Have any of you taken "low bono" clients while working at a firm? I want to take on a low bono client or two but not sure who would get the money. This is a contract opportunity through a non profit so I'm assuming a 1099 will be issued. The per hour rate is significantly less than my billable rate. I would (obviously) like the money but my real objective is just getting experience/networking since I recently moved to a new state and don't have clients of my own.

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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?

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Highest number of billable hours you have seen in a year?

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Can you get fired for having low utilization as a senior? My billable hours this busy season have been much lower than my peers.

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Doing a federal clerkship and thinking of my options after. Anyone in NJ/NY/PA biglaw lit group with collegial and pleasant work environment? I do not care about billable requirements/workload, just salary and don’t want to be treated like shit.

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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.

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My wife wants to move out of state. I'm in my 6th year...500 clients and finally starting to make some money. How bad of an idea is it to sell my book and buy a book in a new state?

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Hello fishes, One of My friend having 5 yrs experience as plsql developer role.
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Hi fishes,

How many project mphasis allow for a employee bcz within 1 year I have worked on two project. What will if 3rd or 4th .will they terminate .

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Hi ,
anyone help on the HCL retention bonus ?

They added 2L per year in separate letter,

will 2L added in every year ?

They added condition of need to stay for 24 month .

How HCL retention bonus works ?

@HCL Technologies

likesmart

What is the salary range for Enterprise Agility Manager- Technology Strategy & Advisory?

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Hi all, Required documents were submitted as HR asked, How long will it take him to release the official offer letter.
I got shortlisted mail and i have submitted all the documents asked.
YOE - 3.5yrs.
making a switch for first time, can someone share their knowledge on this.
new company shortlisted for is COMCAST INDIA

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I give my cell phone to all clients routinely. However, there are always 1 to 2 clients who abuse this and it seems as soon as their cases are over I find a new one and it is making me rethink. I hate to do this because 98% do not abuse it and I like being connected to my people. Thoughts??

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BILLABLE v. SALARY BASED.... pros and cons? I’ve never worked at a firm that has billing requirements, I’ve always been salary based, but I’m interested to know what your experiences have been!

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likehelpful

Hello All,
Small help please. What is expected salary range for principal consultant (BA role) ?
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I am at salary negotiation phase with accenture hiring team. Somebody give me pro tips to fetch more CTC.

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Outside of salary, what other things have people negotiated as new hire, I’ve seen more PTO, working from home, sign on bonus, even stock options? How have you negotiated these things especially if you are new to negotiating? Any books or references that gave you a great foundation. I’ve been on my job search from sometime now and getting more interviews, I’m willing to take a pay cut, but wonder what else I can ask for outside of more pay? Thanks

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Looking for advice: I’m a Junior Copywriter graduating in May and looking to start a position in mid June - July. When is the right time to start applying?

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The mid-level associate who directly supervises me isn’t being responsive. I am worried about missing a deadline. Should I keep pinging him? Figure it out on my own? Reach out to someone above him?

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My firm recently changed its name. How do I update that on fishbowl? It keeps asking me to type in my work email and then doesn’t give me a way to change the name after I verified it 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Protocol for responding (or not) to unsolicited emails from recruiters to your work email? In other words, is it acceptable to just ignore without a response? Or do you prefer to keep the line open with a brief “thanks for thinking of me, I am not interested at this time but hope we can collaborate in the future.”

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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. 🤬

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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

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I am concerned with fulfilling billable hours requirement. I’m required to hit 2100 hours yearly and I’m at ~1,500 hours and I think I’ll hit 150-180hours this month. What will happen if I don’t hit my targeted amount by the end of my year.

likehelpful

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Does your firm deal well with associates who need religious accommodations? If e.g. they’re observing Shabbat, do you always make sure to have at least someone on the team who isn’t? Are you even allowed to ask? Pardon my ignorance.

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Am I the only one left at the end of the month trying to bill 10hour days to meet hours because I slacked off at the beginning of the month? It’s a vicious cycle. Then the end of the month hits and I’m so exhausted that I need to take it was the next week... and the cycle continues

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What’s the most entertaining (in a good or bad way) thing you’ve ever witnessed at a firm outing or holiday party?

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