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

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.

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

Weber folks! At what point do you become eligible for a yearly bonus and how is your bonus determined? Any tie to billable hours?

I recently moved from litigation to transactional and am struggling to reach billable targets. In litigation it was no problem hitting 1800+ hours but don’t see how I’m going to come anywhere close to that in a transactional role.

I’m mostly sitting around all day waiting for work that doesn’t take long to complete (though at my desk for 10-12 hours/day). Is this normal? Suggestions on how to keep busy other than asking for work and having good work product?

What’s the best way to turn down a 2nd interview? During the 1st interview, I learned that the compensation for the role is not within the range that I am looking for and requires 400 more billable hours a year than what I bill now. I’d basically be laterally for my current salary just to bill 400 more hours. I also wasn’t aware that the local office was strictly ID. Firm website advertises lots of practice areas. Any advice? TIA!

Taking an informal survey how many firms (I) have the junior and midlevel summer associates plan the bulk of the summer events (lunches but also evening events) and (ii) count time spent on the summer program as qualified billable work (in that partners see how much you bill to it on your time sheet)?

3.5 years out of school, 2400 billable hours last year in TRS and just got promoted. what kind of year end compensation should I be expecting? Bonus and new salary

I have always filled the Timesheet under "Unassigned task" with Non billable hours as 9hrs. But from today it is showing that Non Job Activity should be less than 4 hrs. Hence i am unable to fill timesheet. Please help me what to do?

How is productivity measured for in-house attorneys? Is there any analog of billable hours for in-house lawyers?

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!

Does industry have billable hours? At the big 4, we are required to work a certain number of hours each week and if we spend too much time on anything we are questioned on why it took so long. Is that a thing when you go in industry?

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?

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?

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?

Did the billable hours bonus not get paid out today? Or is it to be paid in the next check?

There’s a practice group that I’ve been trying to find work in but whenever I volunteer to help, I always get roped in to do non billable work. In the beginning it was fine but now I’m feeling it’s never going to amount to actual work. Any tips to get more involved without all the non billables and how to approach this gently?

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.

How do firms give bonuses to associate attorneys? Quarterly, monthly, annually? What is a bonus based on? Money recieved, billable hours, etc?

I'm looking to set up a bonus structure for a new associate.

Curious to know what other firm's bonus structures are, particularly those with billable requirements of 1900 and below. Trying to understand what the norm is and figure out if associates at my firm are getting screwed. thanks

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.

Are the recent economic troubles translating to slower hiring or lower salaries in life sciences industry? I want to transition to industry this year but am worried it may not be the best time to.

Should those of us who write code be taking a moral/ethical responsibility for what the code is used for?

Is this a good weekend to visit dyker heights? Or is it worth waiting?

McK 🐟: Is it helpful if a Senior Partner from another part of the world puts in a referral (looking for role in the US)

Just graduated w a FT offer at a T2 (S&O, OW, LEK). However, full time start date has been pushed to next year. Is there any way to recruit for MBB in the next coming months? (Realise that hiring is low because of COVID)

Had two final rounds w MBB during UG recruiting and if I have to wait several months to start FT. Iwould rather start a career w MBB if at all possible.

Have McK phone case coming up, has anyone had feedback on why you haven’t passed? Looking to avoid missteps.

Hello Everyone,

I have an offer from Cognizant, I get my offer revised with my counter offer.
Now again I have another counter offer, should I ask them to revise my offer letter again?

Hello,
If anyone can answer ,
On how time it will take normally for HR discussion and final release of offer after clearing the interview?

Can anyone send me invites/codes to the EY and KPMG bowls?

A customer brought me a Christmas gift today. So sweet. What's the nicest thing a customer has ever done for you?

Just found out we have a death in the family and will need to travel cross country for the funeral. I’m on day 4 of clomid for IUI and worried we’re going to have to miss our window for the month. Is it just what it is, or has anyone dealt with travel issues during IUI?

When you encounter a conspiracy theorist re the vaccines, do you set them straight or do you just ignore it? I struggle w how to approach this.

Hi 🐠, connecting documents for I-485 filling. Any insight on the medical check? I don't have vaccination records. Is this required?

Is it ok to switch to Big data tech stack like Hadoop, Hive, Python after 7 years of experience from .Net technologies ? Which of the two field is good for long term perspective.

Can I switch to data science now? I am a chartered accountant. YOE 6 yrs . Any course on data science. Can someone suggest?

Started at my first agency 3 mo. ago. I’m doing great work on exciting clients, but I often feel uninspired and drained. Is it growing pains or is this the wrong industry for me? How will I know?

What happens if i didn't attend the 2nd day of the virtual onboarding session in infosys .

QA lead -10yrs exp... Longing for a change.. Plz DM me so that I can share resume

Cts vs LTI vs Tech Mahindra, which one to choose interms of job security for 8 yrs exp

I recently moved from litigation to transactional and am struggling to reach billable targets. In litigation it was no problem hitting 1800+ hours but don’t see how I’m going to come anywhere close to that in a transactional role.

I’m mostly sitting around all day waiting for work that doesn’t take long to complete (though at my desk for 10-12 hours/day). Is this normal? Suggestions on how to keep busy other than asking for work and having good work product?

Is an offer after only a first screener a red flag?

1st yr at a nyc v50 firm doing general transactional work. I know the lateral market for transactional lawyers is hot but not as hot for juniors. I just want a change of scenery because my current firm is bleeding good associates / not giving great training imo / and just seems small. Would lateralling this early feasible? Would it look bad on my resume?

Anyone worried about firms over-hiring? Our firm has hired a LOT of people. I know we need it now / the past year, but will this bubble pop?

Taking an informal survey how many firms (I) have the junior and midlevel summer associates plan the bulk of the summer events (lunches but also evening events) and (ii) count time spent on the summer program as qualified billable work (in that partners see how much you bill to it on your time sheet)?

Are there any books or other resources that mid levels/seniors/counsel/partners on here have found helpful for the project management / managing junior attorney aspects of your job?

I am not finding a lot of stuff written for lawyers specifically , but there is a lot directed at “managers” in business generally that I imagine could be applicable.

When your seniors aren’t motivated and pulling their weight, it shows and demotivates you. It’s a domino effect. How do you handle these situations? The senior pushes every single thing down and it’s clear to everyone this person could care less. Makes me not care and not want to do anything either…

I’m in a tough spot—still waiting for conflicts to clear and out of the blue, a partner reached out regarding a project that they’ve staffed me on. They want my availability to begin working on the matter next week…how do I handle this? I haven’t given notice, but expect to do so soon…I don’t think it’s prudent to start a new matter esp. since I know I’m leaving…but I can’t turn down work with a straight face (especially because my hours are in “checked out” mode)…

What would be an appropriate gift if I want to show appreciation to my juniors before leaving the firm to go in house? What about for partner/counsel?

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?

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?

Best to Worst in terms of work-life balance: Tech Trans, M&A or Capital Markets? (California if that makes a difference)

Leaving after one year to another biglaw firm?

Hours check anyone? I’m at 1400 to date with pro bono. 2000 target. On track but September is looking slowwwww

Is it pandemic or burnout? Paralegals or admin staff are all trying to push work or bad attitude (FYI in transactions) more and more. Any similar experience?

I lateraled into a niche practice group in Sept 2021. I also have a 1 year old and have been mostly remote since I started - but have been keeping busy tracking towards 2400-2500 hours. That said getting to know people only remote has been kind of awkward at times (email only can be tough to decipher) although as a working mom the pros vastly outweigh the cons. Yesterday my main partner asked me to come in Thursday bc he will be there and set a time to meet. Is this good/bad?? kind of nervous!

There’s a practice group that I’ve been trying to find work in but whenever I volunteer to help, I always get roped in to do non billable work. In the beginning it was fine but now I’m feeling it’s never going to amount to actual work. Any tips to get more involved without all the non billables and how to approach this gently?

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.

What are top firms for a Real Estate practice? Chicago mainly

Instant thoughts on Servants of the Damned?