My firm has a 9-year partnership track as of a year or two ago. It has grown quickly from 5 to 7 to 9 in the past 10 or so years. In the written document that sets out the criteria for partnership, it basically says that your billable hours need to go up every year. Our minimum is 1900. I’m wondering how normal this increasing billables requirement is? I am torn between thinking it’s sensible and thinking it’s another example of law firms treating associates like machines.

I am a new associate (1 month in mid-tier firm) and I struggle to get work to fill up the whole day. In honest time, i get about 3-5 billable hours a day. Am I going to get in trouble or fired over this?? I am putting my best efforts when I do get work and I ask for work sometimes. At this point I feel like I am being annoying too…

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.

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.

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?

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...

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

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?

If you do billable work on a given PTO/vacation day, do you still count that day as vacation? Or do you get that vacation day "back"? Or do you only get the part that you billed "back"? (Or some other option.)

If you take vacation, is the onus on you to make up that billable time? If so, how do you enjoy long vacations?

Does anyone run a business in addition to their firm? I’m a solo and I’m doing pretty well with about 60-70 billable hours a month. Though that leaves a lot of downtime. Curious if anyone has any second businesses that require about 20 hours a week. Not looking for passive income or franchise ideas though.

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

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!

What does bench life look like for you?
For me a typical day looks like this
9 am- sign in and check emails
930-11 : look for a new job
11-2 lunch and nap
2-3 : sometimes meetings, mostly begging people for billable work
3-4:30 - proposal work if I have it or more job hunting
5-9pm family time and dinner
10-3am - netflix, videogames, cry myself to sleep

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?

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

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?

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

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 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.

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.

Thoughts on Willis Towers Watson vs. Mercer for compensation consulting?

Can any1 say when can we expect results of online assessment imocha test at Capgemini

Had consensus for my counselee today. What is a 3+ and a 2+ rating? Never heard this before. Will it really translate to a quantifiable amount?

Like the new Denny work from Droga. The insight of the grandad who can't quite find his role in the new family dynamic is lovely. But the grand dad/grandad line at the end, you just couldn't help yourself could you?

Anyone from Embark able to tell me about some benefits you have. Like how long is Paternity leave and do you have to be with the firm for a year to use it? Also what health insurance do you have? I saw that Embark fully pays premiums but if it’s a junk insurance company then that’s not so great haha.
Also how often are you traveling / in office? Thanks!

Just wanted to share a verse that calls us to be redeemers in our workplace. That our faith is not separate from our work.

Physicians - how much of your week do you spend doing paper work and reviewing labs? I feel like it's taking over my schedule.

Wednesday Wordle 326 3/6

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Hi guys,

I got my full and final settlement today but I can see no tax deduction. Does anyone know the reason. 4k tax used to be deducted every month till now. I also got gratuity and leave encashment along

How is the freelance world looking in Chi right now?

What are some publications, books, podcasts, online classes etc that can help me prepare for my first year in consulting? Have 5 years of experience in finance and making the jump to consulting.

What are the best product based companies in Hyderabad for testing roles?

4YOE

Any roles within Big 4 that would hire with no degree? Could be anything - doesn’t have to be consulting. Asking for a friend! TIA!

Anyone interested in PCS work? Please DM!

How much should a senior manager specializing in State and Local Tax working at a top 10 PA firm with 15 years of experience be making? Any thoughts?

Parents - do any of you truly regret having kids?

BigLaw M&A: what do you consider to be “big deal” vs a small and medium deal? For example, what do you consider a $150M deal?

How often do you respond to emails from law students who want to learn about your firm/practice area? I get like a dozen requests right around OCI every year. Frankly I’m tired of speaking to them and answering the same boring questions, especially if I know they have a low GPA and no chance of summering at my firm, but I do feel bad saying no/ignoring them

My direct report expensed Cal Bar late fees assessed for reporting MCLE credits late and for paying the bar fee late. It’s around $190 extra. I don’t care about the money (it’s not mine) but I think this is principally wrong to ask the company to cover it. Thoughts on this and how you would communicate it?

Can anyone recommend a reputable legal recruiter for the Washington DC market? Drowning in LinkedIn message spam, but looking for a new job and would love to reach out to a pro to help me connect with opportunities.

What’s the best way to get out of small law? I am a junior partner and don’t want to be running a law firm by myself in 5-10 years. The mid-level partners are not business-savvy so I don’t see myself wanting to partner with them either. I want to move to a larger firm.

So the feeling that you’re forgetting something important because you have so much on your plate…that never goes away right?

When you’re in a dispute with your apartment complex, they ask if you’ll meet with their attorney and Tim from your office shows up.

Is your firm monitoring attendance? Today we got scolded like children at school for not coming in 3x a week as required by the new firm policy.

Is it wise to go in house to a product and privacy group after 2 years in commercial litigation?

How do you spend your precious unwinding time after work? I love binge watching tv shows but realize it’s probably not the healthiest way to wind after a stressful day. Anything fun / low stress yall do?

Note; working out is not a relaxing activity for me so don’t even start with that. Also I am single and have no kids so ..

I’m a second year BigLaw associate that pays market. I was offered the position at a modified salary and hourly expectation due to their expected work flow needs. I’m wondering what is the best way to approach the topic of getting on the full salary/hours. Do I wait until the bonuses are given at the end of my first year? Or bring it up at mid-year review? I won’t have any problem meeting my hourly so I’m starting to think I’m being underpaid. I’ve been reading on here that not meeting

What would you say is the difference between a billable hour target vs. minimum? I feel like some firms boast about not having a “minimum” but the expectation is that you to exceed this target which just makes it a minimum.

Gripe in here about Legal Assistants (more in comments)

What types of lit mid law or boutiques are better WLB than big law? Is this even a thing or just a myth?

Somewhat recently lateraled from a large firm to a small firm and I’m starting to feel very micromanaged. Any tips on how to deal with this?

Anybody know the starting salary for a second year associate at Gray Robinson in Florida (not Miami if that makes a difference)? Thinking of a lateral in and want to know what I’d be working with. Bonus structure? Minimum billable req.? Bueller?

PARTNERS: two questions —1. If you see an associate has really low hours for the month, do you imagine them chillen on a beach somewhere or do you consider they probably spent most of their days sitting in front of the computer being “available”? 2. If you send an associate a random e-mail on a weekend like “Can you pull X and send to Y”, would you get annoyed if they responded saying they weren’t by a comp or would you consider it reasonable that they wouldn’t be by a comp on a weekend?

Any insights on 2-3 year associate salaries at Ogletree and Fox Rothschild in NJ?

Anyone else having trouble focusing today? Every time I have a long break and come back to the office I’m reminded how much I don’t like my current job. ID Associate and I have such a hard time concentrating even after a week off. I find it mind-numbing and unfulfilling. I’m never excited to come to work anymore for the past few months now. Just found out from a legal recruiter that I’m also way underpaid here. Hopeful I’ll get a job in a diff area of law or find another calling altogether.

Can I waive into other UBE jurisdictions using my NY UBE license at any time? Or is there an expiration date for my bar exam score, after which point I won't be able to waive in?