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.

My firm’s IT (especially system saving and file locating function) is so bad 😐😞 and they keep doing updates no one asked them for just to mess with the stuff we already got a hang of without doing anything about the issues we actually need fixed. Anyone else in a similar boat? Do you bill the client for the time it takes to fix the IT issue (or IT inefficiency generally, like time taken to find a file in a convoluted system)? Or is that supposed to be our non-billable time?

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?

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?

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.

Anyone else here have terrible utilization because their deals die and a code never opens? /can’t find another code to book hours? I’m sitting on over 200 billable hours at this point

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?

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

It’s hard to trust the partners/leadership when they want us to return to office as being better when we increase offshoring? Also, the pressure on billable hours when all that really matters is how much our fixed labor costs vs. how much we can bill (which is usually fixed fee or at least a range) and the fixed labor costs of offshoring is significantly cheaper so the hours don’t matter. Am I mistaken by this viewpoint?

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?

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.

Mental health is busy, looking for tips to help manage tasks, currently I supervise 12 therapists in 3 different departments that are all different with unique dynamics in each dept. I still carry a small caseload on top of this. I'm struggling with my patients and worry I am not giving them my best, I wax and wane between focusing on patients and therapists. Looking for advice navigating this type od conversation with my leadership, we have all been asked to work on increase billable time...

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.

I heard so much about minimum billable hours here by staff. I never saw that email. Is it inly for certain groups?

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.

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.

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 currently work at a medium sized firm and have about two years experience in personal injury litigation. The billable hours and lack of work life balance are really getting to me and I am looking to switch to something else out of litigation, preferably in house. I am also looking to relocate to a different state. How do I go about properly marketing myself to companies that might not take my relocation and minimal experience seriously?

Is there an appropriate way to turn down an assignment because it is non-billable? Two of the partners I work for keep asking me to write client bulletins and articles with them, which is great, but now I’m starting to worry about meeting my billable hours requirement.

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

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

Vague feeling of being lost. How do you 🐠a handle it?

Are the 70s coming back? Just saw a woman in a black, flair leg jumpsuit and some hideous platform shoes... yikes🙄

Looking for book recommendations; any favorites? Interested in both fiction and educational/self-improvement (for example, investment / finance books, time management, etc). I feel my vocab is...

Has any one went from reinsurance back to insurance? The money is great and all but the W/L balance isn’t. Has anyone else felt the same?

Can we negotiate TCS with counter offer.

I’m looking to move to another OHG in the new year. Can anyone recommend a good agency, with a great team, and meaningful product?

Any nurses here not have hospital experience? I work as a community nurse and have previous experience in an assisted living and clinic. I don’t have much interest in going to the hospital. Been a nurse for about 9 years. Started out as LPN and now I have small children and enjoy my flexibility. Any regrets for those that never did the hospital ?

Did people see an “inflation” adjustment on top of normal performance salary adjustments this year? I.E how did your company react to inflation in regards to pay?

What’s a good budget for rent if I’m making 138k + 14k sign on in NYC? I’ve got like 10k in student loans and about 5k in credit cards. No other obligations.

What’s the max umbrella policy coverage y’all have seen offered by insurance providers? Looking to get one for the first time. Anything I should consider/ask the insurance company?

What are the salaries like at level 9 & 10 for management consulting in digital commerce at Accenture strategy? My profile: 4 years tech experience in e-commerce and data + MBA from tier 2 bschool + ecommerce BA experience at Capgemini

How can entry-level candidates stand out during the interview process?

Sakarya for a Senior Principal Consultant at EY GDS
1. <30L Fixed
2. 30L - 40L fixed
3. 40L - 50L fixed
4. >50L

Currently with PwC US and would like to move to PwC Australia for better work life balance. Anyone available to chat?

Just curious: how much time would you bill for on prepping instructions to a FA for a response? Feel free to break down by how long you’ve been practicing, complexity, or any other factor you think is relevant.

First year associate thinking about making the just from medium sized reputable IP firm to In House. Started at said firm summer of 1L year as a law clerk/patent agent in May 2019, have worked through school and full time as associate since Sept 2021. Feeling very “stuck” in day to day work. Love the patent/IP space but drafting and pros w/minimal human interaction is getting very difficult. Thinking In House would be better, but not sure how much experience needed. Thoughts?

How long does it take you to draft a patent application on average?

Does anyone find an attack on the Examiner’s prima facia showing of obviousness a lot more effective than distinguishing each and every prior art reference.

I recently underwrote a reply to final. Didn’t even bother with the references since I just got the case. Overcame the rejections.

Can anyone comment on how effective this is?

What do hiring partners (or HR in in-house) generally think about a lateral that are in the middle of a part-time MS degree program (STEM MS program)?

Taking the patent bar in a week and it’s been so tough studying while working. I’m so behind in my hours this month, and my firm (midlaw, IP only) was pretty clear that they expect my hours to stay on track this month regardless of the exam. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this week and then make it through 6 hours of testing. Please tell me the afternoon session is easier than the morning session, like some others have said 🙏🏽

Bit of a niche topic: I’ve been in TS/SCI processing for a Science/Tech/Weapons analyst position with the CIA for 3 yrs since I finished grad school in chemistry, but CIA positions are sort of set it and forget it since they can take so long. I’ve since been focused on a Patent Attorney track and am with a firm that will support me taking the patent bar/law school. If I get through processing and go to the CIA for some time, do you think would I be accepted back into patent law later on?

Any recommendations for patent prosecution practice management software for a small firm? Currently not using anything and want to be able to better manage and monitor associates.

What would you say the going rates are for (i) non provisional application drafting and (ii) office action responses?

Subject matter eligibility "doctrines" .... lol amirite?

I’m looking for a tool that allows me to search for text in Office Actions and responses. For example, is there a way to search for ‘written description’ or ‘improper Markush’ issued by Examiner John Smith? Does something like this exist?

Hi, are there any women-owned patent firms in the SF Bay Area that focus on patent prosecution in computer technologies? Thanks!

In what order do you draft a patent application? I know the official answer is “it depends.” But what do you find yourself do most often? For me, it’s claims —> drawings —> spec.

I’m a patent pros. paralegal working in bio/chem at my firm, 26 yo with an MS in Chem at 100k and a 115 hr billable req.
After the mental beat down that was grad school, I’m happy to have straightforward tasks and mentally coast, but my attys want me to start studying for the patent bar asap.
I like where I’m at and I know that once I start down the tech spec/agent/attorney path, it’s going to be full speed. How long do you think I can/should stay in this position before starting to study?

Any recommendations for free or reasonably priced CLE courses for patent prosecution?

What do y’all use to draw informal figures? I currently use powerpoint but am curious if there are more efficient ways. What have you found most efficient/convenient?

If a client asks law firm A to transfer a couple of patent prosecution cases to law firm B, does law firm A need to deliver all relevant documents to law firm B? Can law firm B just submit POA and access all the files via Private Pair? Thank you

Anybody know anything about Nicholson de vos Webster Elliott for patent pros? Culture, pay, hours etc? Mid level looking to lateral

Having some severe Executive Dysfunction atm. I can't imagine that the patent attorney bowl here is short on the neurodivergent. Suggestions/tips/tricks/advice are all appreciated. I recently moved, bought my first home, got vaccinated, etc. - basically just a huge load of stressful events that are probably doing a number on my brain, but I also just can't seem to get on top of.

Please, if you're neurotypical, think thrice before posting - I'm not normal, and want help, not stress or dismiss