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Am115-firm.
Billable expectations to bonus: 1,900 on paper (but more like 2,000-2,100 is unwritten and your bonus gets much larger at that point). This is a low billable expectation, imo. The unwritten one is more in tune with what similar firms expect, and it’s what we tend to aim for.
I am a 1st-year, making $180,000/year.
You could probably be making more money with those billable targets elsewhere, but if you’re already not hitting them now, it’s a moot point.
3rd year, big law AM100 firm, 1900 billable hours required, with the unspoken rule that folks who bill more (2100+) will get substantial raises and folks who do not hit the hours or just barely hit them, will not. 215k now, expecting 230 or more once I become a 4th year
Are those hours you actually bill or hours that eventually get billed to the client? I was shook when some friends at lower amlaw firms told me their billable target was to what was billed to client. Ie. The work they did that a partner wrote off didn't count. But if no one in your small firm is hitting hours target then that might be a problem with the amount of work or how the goal is calculated
Our firm goes by total hours billed, NOT what is ultimately sent to the client.
Biglaw in NYC. Junior. 1950 hours.
Would you share what firm?
That seems so low for for biglaw in NYC! Asking for a friend… lol
3rd year at a boutique transactional firm. My billable requirement is 1500 (seriously) and my base salary is 150k. If I hit 1700 it goes up to ~200k.
Third year. Small Maine firm (7 lawyers). Expectation: 900 hours. Pay is $81,000. Pay increases to $105,000 if I bill 1100 hours.
900 hours???? Are you up in the county?
I always feel like the odd one out on here. I work with 3 other attorneys at a small firm in a town of 55k. No billable requirement. Just have to make sure I bill enough to cover my salary and make the firm a little money, and everyone's happy. I almost never work more than 40-45 hours a week. But I also am certain I make *significantly* less than everyone else who has responded here.
TBH, the expectation in most firms is that junior attorneys are an *investment* and not expected to cover their own costs for the first few years. Your situation sounds rough 😟
6th year, 1800 mandatory minimum but typically bill 1900-2100, smaller firm (roughly 50 attorneys)
2nd year at a small firm. The official requirement is 1650 but you’re expected to hit at least 1750.
7th year, 400ish lawyers, 2000 requirement with 200 non billable. Expectation actually around 2100.
1800 billable plus 200 of BD/CLE/pro bono to get 2000.
3rd year, midsize firm, working in insurance defense. Billable requirement is a weekly average of 40, so basically 2100 annual requirement, give or take.
13 attorney firm, billable requirement of 2050 for the associates. No requirement for partners but I still use it as a guideline.
Second year, small firm, 2000 minimum and everyone seems to hit it.
I'm starting my 4th associate year at a small-midsize boutique IP law firm in the mountain region. My requirement is 1850 billable, not billed. 1850 is a hard number to hit in IP prosecution as opposed to IP litigation because prosecution is done on a project basis and most projects have budgets and if you're over budget it cuts into you're efficiency, so you're capped at what you can actually bill even if it takes longer.
8th year, AmLaw 50, 1,900 minimum (going to 2,000 next year), with understanding that your number should probably start with a “2” if you want to be considered on track and eligible for best bonuses. I’ve billed 2,400 and 2,200 last couple of years, but that is more than average.