October hours, go!

I’ll start: 160. EBEC. Deal work slowed down a little. Got all of my compliance work off my plate. Currently looking at 4 billable hours today.

Had 2 hours of billable work today 💀

Highest number of billable hours you have seen in a year?

Anyone working as a 2 years + lawyer for Fragomen in Canada can share their salaries and working advantages? (holidays, billable hours etc). Got an interview coming up and want to make sure not to under-sale my profile!

I just spoke with a software architect that went back to school to learn software engineering after law school because it was more lucrative and had less hours. He’s worked his way up and has the skills and authority to work 6:30am-10am and gets to work remotely. We discussed that results/outputs is better than billable time like in law and public accounting. Yet, his parents and others would view him as “lazy” but he does his job and makes a fantastic living. Time>Money and Results>Hours

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?

With the various RTO rumors/fear out there and in the absence of spring/summer/fall(?) bonuses. Would you consider coming into the office more if your firm offered bonuses linked to days in the office (coupled with billable targets, of course)?

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

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?

Is there an appropriate way to turn down an assignment because it is non-billable? Two of the partners I work for keep asking me to write client bulletins and articles with them, which is great, but now I’m starting to worry about meeting my billable hours requirement.

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?

So who else here is experiencing plummeting billable hours and exponential weight gain since this whole WFH thing started? Bought snacks for 30 days, finished in 48 hours.

I’ve practiced litigation in DC for about 5+ years at a larger plaintiffs’ firm, and am considering a switch to a defense firm. Is there any insight to how many billable hours this would require, and how much time that would actually be? For reference, the firm has a 1900 billable hour requirement and the partner said I would have “no problem” fulfilling that based on the work they have.

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.

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

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.

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.

I'm a long time prosecutor getting into the ID game and billable hours. Are there any resources out there that can help me get more effective/efficient without spending months/years learning the hard way? Some days I'm at the office 10 hours, took virtually no breaks and yet only bill 7. 🤬

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?

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.

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.

salary band for Accenture Management Consulting 2nd year Manager in Chicago (Tier 2)? Was offered $120k base. Thoughts?

The CW that I’d work the longest with (for about 3 years) had just being promoted to ECD on a big cool shop after very good run. Meanwhile I was just promoted to ACD at an OK medium shop after a very torturous run that almost made me quit ad life for good.

Sometimes I wonder what the hell did I do wrong.
I didn’t even think he was that good back then 😂.

He is a nice guy tho and I’m happy for him and for whoever will be working for him.

During a 90 minute model test are you typically expected to build out the full pro forma B/S?

26 F NYC looking for an exclusive buddy 👀

What are thoughts on Rotman with $$? Debating between that and just wait another year for T15. International student looking for jobs in Canada, 720 GMAT, 3 yoe at big 4

Has anyone here ever gifted a stock? Do you know the process? (Especially on Robinhood or Fidelity)

What is a reasonable rent increase %

Trying to understand risk of loss and title better. When does it make sense for title to transfer upon receipt of payment? Why would title and risk transfer separately?

Hi all,

Any openings in Bristlecone for consultant role in Delhi NCR region? Can someone from Bristlecone please help?

TIA

Did not sell some of my underperforming stocks before end of 2021. Can I sell now but include them in 2021 tax return? Remember there is some grace period for this.

Hey all! I’m 30 years old. About to close on a house with a 5.75% fixed 30 yr mortgage. If you were me and your goal was to maximize your net worth by retirement, would you put a few thousand dollars extra into paying down the house faster or invest that extra money in the market? The 5.75% doesn’t feel that low but also not crazy high so I’m torn. Thoughts? 🙏

Is joining amdocs as java developer is bad ? they said i will be working on legacy systems to make them transform into new tech ? is it true And can we say no to project when joined or change project in amdocs?

Hey can someone refer me for a project manager role

I don't know why this bowl was created. I don't see any replies or comments on the posts. Engagement on the posts will be helpful and motivated.

Good sushi place recommendations? Looking for Omakase for $100-200 pp

Any news from DPW? 🤔🤔

What should your realization rate be as a first year? I have not gotten any negative feedback but my realization rate seems...bad

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.

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?

Lawyer Couples:
I’m currently an associate (no kids) in a very busy corp group (think 50-60 billable weekly). My wife works significantly less (currently part time, 10-15, but hopefully will be full time soon). I find myself getting upset when asked to help with basic household things (trash, cooking etc.) when she’s been lounging around watching Netflix all day. Am I being reasonable or am I a misogynist? How do you deal with one person having significantly more free time than the other?

New to due diligence and not sure the timeline of projects. Tips to stay organized of the project and timeline, and how to update those leading the deal? Just keep track of new info and provide as necessary?

Anyone else work for a group in a different city? Any tips? Any concerns you think I should be aware of that I might be overlooking? Going to be joining a lit team in a different office in my state. While the firm has an office in my city, there are no other litigators in my office. A bit worried about being on an island. Fwiw I’ll be a mid/senior associate and I plan to make frequent visits to the office where my team is.

Anyone know the comp for staff attorneys at a premiere lit boutique like Susman? Interested in making the move as an alternative to going in-house, but also aware that it would reduce comp and might be a step down and result in being seen as a second-class citizen. But I don’t really care about any of that.

Assuming I’m justified in thinking I deserve a higher bonus/salary, who should I talk to about potential raises (HR, management, etc.)? Should I say that I’m considering other options? (Details below)

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

After you are stealth laid off, other than job search, what do you do? I assume they won’t give you work and even if they do, you can politely decline? How do you feel about you are not progressing anymore and seeing other people progressing in their career? I have no intention to make partner, but still feel a bit stuck not doing that much.

Who has time to date in big law? How did you meet your s/o? Particular app suggestions? My best friend at the firm is single and ready to mingle (kind of….when work let’s her).

4th year associate, 200k student loans—think I’ll be able to get a mortgage even with loans? Looking at a place for 450k. I have 3.5 years public interest work that counts towards PLSF and I plan on going back to government so I really don’t care to pay it down.

Do we need a union to stop partners from emailing us after 7:30 pm?

Dropped off my kids to school this morning and just felt unsettled. It’s so hard to concentrate on work today.

I’m a first year associate and perpetually concerned I’m going to get fired bc I feel like my work product isn’t at the level it should be. Does anyone have an idea of how easy/ hard it is to get fired?

Can I give notice by email? Or is it truly preferred to call the partners directly? What if they don’t pick up?

How long are you hearing back on applications and call backs. I’ve only been looking two weeks and had one screening interview last Friday and just passed my resume on two days ago for an “insider” opportunity that isn’t posted yet. I.am.dying. Send help.

How hard/easy would it be to find a decent big law position after 3 years of SEC experience? Total 5 years atty experience. What will be the salary like?

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?