I know some of my colleagues are recording their standard fees as time so that it counts towards their billable hours. It infuriates me but am I just being naive by not doing the same?

Naive question: How many yearly billable hours are reasonable for a good balance of work and home. I have a young child and don't want to miss out on important moments. I had one firm state that their yearly quota is 1900 hours and I don't have a frame of reference as to whether this is reasonable or if it means 12 hour days. I am coming from public service so billables are 100% new to me. Any insight is appreciated.

so, how many firm laptops' worth of billable time would you say you waste in a given month dealing with delays caused by your firm laptop?

ID Associates…how the hell do you reach your billable requirements? Just started at an ID firm and am lost as to how it’s possible when there is so much daily grind type work that you cannot bill for. Someone enlighten me.

This might sound like a crazy question but never having worked in public before: Billable hours - if you’re very efficient at your job, do you stretch out the time and work slower to get to your billable hours or do you safe the client the money. In a Situation where you don’t have other projects to work on. Tell me the ins and outs of working billable hours for a complete newbie.

Imagine a person lateraling into Big Law who has never had to do the billable hours previously. 1) What would be your best piece of advice? 2) What do you wish someone would have told you about billing when you started? 3) Is there maybe a book for someone entering the minefield on billing effectively and capturing time effectively? Thanks in advance!

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?

I have a recruiter showing me a general overview of FTI Consulting saying that compensation would consist of base salary + monthly qualified billables + 10% to 20% annual bonus. Is this similar to A&M (% of billable hours)? I'm currently in TS but am looking for a boost in compensation, more than a public accounting firm can offer. What kind of $ are FTI seniors making in this market?

What does everyone have for billable hours?

Working at ID firm in NYC, 2 years in. Not thrilled with salary (under 125k). 2000 billable goal, will hit it. Should I be looking elsewhere?

I have practiced law for several years and still struggle with the feast-or-famine nature of my practice. (Sudden rush of client outreach, many emergencies, then … nothing). A famine week might be 3-4 billable hours/day. My practice area does not have a predictable annual cycle, like “year end” or “tax day.” Any tips from other attorneys for how to recognize, predict, and/or even out these periods?

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

Wondering what average billable hours are for 2022.

What are firm’s known billable requirements? Is there a ramp up period?

When folks say they bill [insert scary number here], are they generally referring to only billable hours? Or also pro bono/biz dev, etc.?

Hi there, starting new in private practice. My job requires billable hours. Anyone know where I can find a list of terms and descriptions I can use when I am billing clients? TIA

Based on the comments of many I know I’m not alone in just being weary right now and the past year. Big law litigation is just a billable hamster wheel I want to get off. I’m also done with firm politics, billable hours, and mystery comp models. But I’m a sucker for security and the “devil you know” has kept me here for years. Are lower stress law jobs a real thing in house and how do you get away from litigation if you haven’t been working hardcore on contracts?

I know there’s a lot of stats out there about alcoholism in the legal field, but has anyone else significantly decreased their alcohol use? I find it almost impossible to put in bill billable hours while drinking like I used to

Any thoughts on family law as a practice area? Got offered 110k plus bonuses with low billable hours requirement. I'm in Los Angeles. Not sure if I should get into it as a practice area though as I hear conflicting things. Any thoughts would help. Thanks

Pardon my ignorance as I am a newly promoted manager from industry to B4, but how does the staff have over 168 billable hours within a week? That’s more than working 24 hours/day for 7 days/week...

What, in your opinion, is considered a healthy billable hours per month that is good enough and sustainable?

Do sm platforms have an ethical responsibility to monitor content and false information on their platforms? I think it's a slippery slope to losing our freedom of speech.

Recommendations for dress shirts that can be worn untucked for a reasonable price (<$50)? Do not like Untuckit’s fit. Slim athletic build here

Hi all, Can you guys do me a favor I need 11 likes to start my DM

I really want some clear cut long term career goals and ambitions. But working in risk and reg I haven’t found anything yet that really grasps my desire. But my seniors keep asking me where I want to go but in all honesty I just keep bouncing from one project to another trying to do a good job. Does anyone have any ideas how I can find my future career path?

Looking at switching from my current savings account to either Ally Bank Online Savings (1.10% APY) or American Express High Yield Savings Account (1.15% APY). Anyone have experience with either of the two?

Can anyone please let me know about the WLB and WFH in the below function and devision?
Function - Barclays International
Division - Investment Bank
Thanks

In your experience, how helpful has a CFP been? Any CFP recommendations in the city?

Bi F🐠 here. 30. Have not been with another F, but want to change that. Not sure even where to start because honestly I feel lost on so many fronts. Any advice?

Sitting in the labor room waiting to become a first time dad. My life flashing infront of my eyes....

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!

To those who sell digital products - what do you use besides Etsy?

Thoughts on + 1s at client dinners? I think they just shouldn’t be there. A creative asked to bring his gf in front of the crew & client. I felt I couldn’t say no and regret it.

After my Salesforce admin cert, where can I get enough experience with Salesforce to apply to entry level Salesforce analyst/associate roles? I only have Salesforce experience in the past using it as CRM as a proj manager

What is y’all’s social media strategy for organic reach and engagement?

What type of content performs best for you? Do you post on a certain day at a certain time? Do you believe using hashtags actually help? Is there a way to make posts more “interactive” ? What are your thoughts on reposting other creators content and giving credit?

Sorry lots of questions

Best treat on your desk for clients? I’ve used peppermint patties, Hershey nuggets.

Anything else you like having out?

Wrote a “per my last email” email today. I simultaneously love/hate myself.

Hi fishes.. i have joined ey gds in august. On the 2nd week of joining i got allocated to a project(100% utilization) its been 3 months, the project did not kickstart.. had few meetings but no work at all. I have been doing couple of certificates though. Can i be in trouble for this? Will job security be affected?

Is it weird to connect with clients on LinkedIn? Generally, I have avoided this but interested in getting other people’s takes.

Transitioning from junior in house at a very small company where I only did small easy contract review to a large multinational corporation in a few weeks, and have those weeks off. Does anyone have any book recommendations I can read until then that actually offer good insight and helpful tips?!

I didn’t learn that much on the business side and I love reading, so seems like a good idea to relax while also preparing a bit.

Happy to inform that this bowl is now 1000+ times stronger! 1.2K members and counting! 😀

I soon start my first real lawyer job in a midsize boutique in major market. Job description said it is a litigation associate position to handle “complex insurance coverage disputes.” What would be my career options after 3-4 years? I know the question is very broad.. but which areas generally welcome coverage attorneys?

I’m a Canadian lawyer in London, UK for a week. Any London lawyers want to meet for a drink? I practice family law and I went to law school in the UK before becoming licensed in Canada.

I’m a veterans law attorney for a not for profit in dc and want to transition to the for private side of this area of law, any suggestions?

Just heard that my opposing counsel committed suicide. If any of you feel like you need help, or believe you are struggling with substance dependency, I urge you to get help before you lose control. It’s ok to be big enough to know when you need help.

One of my supervising attorneys all of a sudden is heavily redlining my work by just rephrasing what I originally wrote and adding things I find unnecessary. He didn’t use to redline my work this much and everything ends up being overly dense and wordy. I’ve always gotten good feedback on my writing skills and after 8 months at the firm I know my writing has improved. All other partners and supervisors are actually redlining my work less. Should I be suspicious or is he going through a phase?

What’s the best way to handle being let go by a firm as a 1st year transactional associate?

For those of you who started your own Trusts and Estates practice - what was the hardest when you first started?

Looking for some summer reading material. Wanted to see if anyone had suggestions for books on litigation and or business/ money investments.

Giving notice next week - I plan to give notice to my main partner in person and call 3 others who are in another office who I have a lot of cases with. I have a bunch of partners who I have only one case with and don’t see/speak to much (and who are in another office) - is it ok just to email them? I don’t want to come off as disrespectful but I also don’t want to give notice 15 times in a row ☠️

Any tips on approaching the subject of going on reduced hours or part time? No kids, just want more work life balance.

Just started as a first year at an ID firm in soflo. Had no idea what I was getting myself into or that 2400 hours was out of the ordinary. I expected to get grinded and paid “low” but now I’m scared that I won’t be able to get out of ID based off what I’ve been reading and make real money like I had hoped. Any advice on getting out/when if it’s too soon?

I am a post bar graduate and currently seeking employment. I did not graduate from a top tier school, but I did graduate in the top third of my class as a dual-degree graduate. About a week ago, a partner at a big law firm connected with me on LinkedIn. He asked if I had a job lined up. I told him no and he responded that I should let him know if there is anything his firm or he can do to help me. We have a meeting with each other in two weeks. Is this a big law opportunity?

Laptop sleeves - useful or waste of money?

Need advice and tips for hitting 1,900 billable hours without loosing my whole life.

I know these scenarios are posted all the time but… Iateralled last month/ super slow/ need support that l’m ok lol. Was super busy the first 2 real weeks of work but have been slow since the holidays (25-30 billable hours per week). Any support/ recommendations to ease the anxiety greatly appreciated :) My last firm was quite toxic and basically shamed me for ever having a slow day

Rising 5th year at v5 doing M&A and looking at an opp as M&A counsel at a newly minted unicorn. Major market. 300ish employees with legal dept of <5. PE backed.
Any general guidance on what reasonable total comp package would be for base, bonus, equity?

Wow. A UK partner just asked for a call to go over the closing checklist morning his time. No, I am not in the U.K. and no the deal is not closing this Friday. We are on the second round of drafts and the date has not even been set into drafts.

I’ve been working to or past midnight every night. I ignored his note about wanting it his morning time and suggested 10am my time. I’m sorry but I’m not waking up at 4am to walk you through a closing checklist that is pretty self explanatory. 😒

Does your firm offer free Ubers when working late at the office?

Is it normal to feel guilty when there’s a lull? How do you guys recommend filling the time?

Anyone have some sample fee schedules I can look at for flat rate transactional services, like IP matters (non-patent) and contracts? I have market data but I’d like a broader sample size especially since I’m planning to steeply discount my rates until my book is built up more.