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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I do about 150 actually billed hours per month. The amount worked is definitely higher than 150 when you consider flat fee arrangements and write offs. I would guess 180ish.

When I am above these amounts, I have trouble keeping up.

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150-160 on average in biglaw

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I love it! The no billable hours aspect is really nice. And no nit-picky or haggling clients lol

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I'm currently drowning. I'm the only junior associate left who can do leg work (first years are still pretty green). Billing ~170-200 each month

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Same as A2. Some recent months have been over 200. Comes in waves. Hoping for a quieter summer.

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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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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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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

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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?

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

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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?

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

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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.

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It was suggested I repost this here. Figured you'd all appreciate it.

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

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