Looking for input: I am new to the industry and just started as a consultant in a PD team. I was asked to research and come up with a few ways to increase the engagement levels of the associates (summer to 8 years). This conflicts with the “more billable hours” ideology and I am lost. Any inputs on improving the engagement would be great for me to research further.
Talking to a few associates, here is what I have collected so far. Trainings, webinars, feedback portal etc. thanks

I wonder if we’ll still have minimum billable hours if WWIII breaks out

Obligatory financial info post. 1) size of firm, 2) billable requirements, 3) salary, 4) bonus, 5) quality of life, 6) debt, and and 7) family/married/single. Go!

Trying to explain billable hrs to hubs. I billed 160 this month, which he said “is only 40 hr weeks” (true) - but how many hrs do you figure you “work” or are in the office to bill 150?

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?

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?

Is 150 billable hours per month little/average/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.

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?

What’s your current billable rate and salary?

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.

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?

Does anyone have experience working for a ALSP? How does compensation work (pay and benefits)? Are you an employee or technically an IC? Do you have billable requirements like at a firm? How do you think it prepared you to potentially move in house? I'm currently at a firm but thinking of taking a position with an ALSP but my goal is to go in house.

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.

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

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!

Anyone else absolutely *loathe* being assigned new client matters at the end of the month when you know your billable time won’t count bc conflicts haven’t cleared yet? Just me?

Does anyone have experience working for a ALSP? How does compensation work (pay and benefits)? Are you an employee or technically an IC? Do you have billable requirements like at a firm? How do you think it prepared you to potentially move in house? I'm currently at a firm but thinking of taking a position with an ALSP but my goal is to go in house.

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?

How many billable hours per week is considered at capacity? I’m getting pushback on boundaries I’m setting about additional matters and marketing work from my firm when I’ve been billing 60-75 hours per week for the last 6 weeks, and I’m still behind on my work. I feel like it’s reasonable to not kill myself further to fit in more/turn things around faster at this point, but am I being unreasonable? I expect my workload to remain at this level through the end of the year at least.

What’s big law like in San Francisco? Anyone have any insights to firm cultures or billable targets?

Hi guys, yoe: 18; tech: Java j2ee cloud tech leadership..looking for Director level roles in Hyderabad in product companies. Cctc:55Lpa; What's ideal ctc to look for?

@McGraw Hill any idea on salary for academic design roles ?

Whats your favorite watch to wear when you know you’re about to spend a long time in the bathroom?

Mine is anything with a dive timer bezel so that I can play with it if I get bored

For anyone who has jumped to industry but in a different city, how did you go about the recruiting process? Was the process difficult? Did you have luck getting a relocation bonus/comp?

Hey everyone, my partner is interviewing for the Sr. Mechanical engineer position for Amazon robotics. Could anyone please share any tips or interview prep guides? Thanks in advance!

Do all applicants get invited to complete McKinsey’s Solve game?

I am so beyond ready to leave my current job, but can’t yet, since bonuses are paid out in January. 😬

In the meantime, I’ve applied to a lot of similar roles (slightly higher) but have not heard - good or bad - from any. Is it common for companies to slow down hiring in December because of Q4 rush, people on holiday, etc.?

Salary check . Please add so we can compare . Amount , City would be helpful

Hey Y’all My name is Michelle. I currently reside in Berryton Kansas. I have been self employed in healthcare agency work as well as leadership building operator/LTC/Rehab/ALF/Whole food nutrition marketing/sales. Minimal experience in the IT digital marketing and social media But I can learn, I’m out going No issues with positive conversations or redirecting Long history of increasing census rapidly/stabilizing, conducting building site visits etc….Remote/Relocation considered WHOS HIRING???

Who’s drinking and watching game 7? Who do you got?

When did you know your firm wasn't right for you? I'm not sure if it's just the stress of being a new attorney with a family or if my job isn't the right fit. I work in civil litigation and am consistently below my billables. I can't stay late because my kids need me and I can't work on the weekends because I have to maintain my house and take care of my kids. I'm being constantly told to work harder, stay later, etc but it's not practical. Or am I not approaching this with the right mindset?

Is anyone utterly confused about what they want to do long-term?

Any CBd/hemp oil brands that has worked for you guys?

How do you handle the next day after being up until 4am the night before on a deal? My other deal teams don’t know I was up so late, but obviously I’m going to be much slower in the morning. It sounds whiny to say “sorry for the delay I was up all night” when everyone else is also so busy...

Should I be concerned about abusing adderell? I was depressed/lacking motivation and needed to get some deals done and my hours up ASAP. Convinced my doctor I had ADHD, so I now have a legal prescription. I feel so much better, and am getting so much accomplished. No judgement please. We all know this is a high stress, high pressure environment.

Anyone coast for 2-3 years, lateral, rinse and repeat until they’re done with the biglaw game? Looking to maximize $$$ and then do something else

What monetary goal/target are you telling yourself to hit before quitting big law?

Have you experienced or do you know of, partners that play games amongst themselves with associates, i.e. Partner A will hire an associate that they know annoys Partner B and continue to promote that associate just to annoy that partner? Do you know of similar examples?

Partners - what was the most stressful year of your career? The year before you made partner? Your first year of partnership? The year(s) you or your partner gave birth?

Is it a fail of character leaving biglaw? I want to leave, but despite the constant stress and suffering, I can’t avoid feeling like it’s my fault or that maybe I’m over exaggerating how I feel. All my colleagues feel ridiculously happy, I’m the grinch one that’s never enjoying the grind (but the grind is hard and competitive, very competitive) :( any thoughts? Is there future after quitting biglaw so young?

So, it’s been two weeks since the last response from the HR recruiter (they said my resume and tests were shared with the team). Should I send an email? It’s normal that some process take this long, but I’m getting a little anxious.

Let’s talk speed reading. I’m a slow reader and listened to a podcast recently on speed reading. I’m intrigued. Who here speed reads? How did you learn those skills, and what types of documents do you speed read in practice? I do mostly litigation and am thinking that speed reading would help with research but maybe not things like doc review where you need to review for both responsiveness and privilege.

Foreign trained lawyer (common law) and just starting bar study. Freaking out. Please tell me it’s possible in the timeframe.

Anyone know of top RE law groups that don’t really do a lot of deal support work (sorry M&A friends)?

How long did your longest matter last? I imagine litigators take the cake here but curious about deals as well.

I’m so f*cking scared of fucking something up, getting fired and then being unemployable…

Should I take more initiative? It’s my stub year and I’m getting worried. My hours have been super low the past two months, I’m talking like maybe billing 3-4 hours a day and billing no hours on multiple days. I ask for work but the tasks I get don’t require a lot of time. Should I be reaching out more?

Gunderson? More like Going Under, Son

Has anyone moved away from NY and successfully resigned from the NY bar? What are the consequences if you just don’t pay? The requirements are insane to officially “resign” - draft a motion, pay a fee, send proof of service - I honestly do not know what this nonsense means, I’m not a litigator for a reason. Is there someone I can pay to do it? Should I just pay the $375 to stay active to avoid this nightmare?

How long does it usually take to clear conflicts? Mid level. Around 50 client matters.

First year here wondering the best way to carry work phone along with personal when you’re on the move. How do you guys do it? Same pocket makes me wary of damaging them.

Senpais, looking back, if you had known more about your specialty, would you still have chosen it? If not, which specialty would you have preferred to enter? And why?