RTO cuts my billable hours down by a third. Why do firms hate money

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.

Billables are low this month. Like I have 65 billable hours in so far. I’ve messaged partners over the last week to try and get more cases but there are tons of new associates who were just onboarded and were at a low point for business. I’m freaking out

Can you get fired for having low utilization as a senior? My billable hours this busy season have been much lower than my peers.

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…

When your boss gives you 48 hours (clock hours not billable hours) to produce a viable objection to a MTD/compel arbitration in a complex commercial lit case, which is not my practice area, what kind of result is he expecting? From scratch, no template.

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?

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.

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?

What’s the deal with RFPs? I’ve spent countless [non-billable] hours on several of them only to find out that I’m not included in the actual proposal (the document sent to the client showcasing the proposed case team). Is this normal?

Hi can someone give me an estimate of what a pediatric occupational therapist should be making in a city with a high cost of living. No benefits. Between 30 to 40 billable hours, documentation time unpaid etc. Independent contractor role. Practicing for over 5 years.

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?

Getting over heartbreak and having a full time job is torture lol. My boyfriend and I just broke up after almost a year of being together. It was such a beautiful relationship but ultimately he just didn’t love me. I love him so much. My mind knows that I deserve reciprocal love and I’m worthy, but I feel physically ill. My body hurts, my stomach is in knots, my head hurts. How is it that I have to mend a broken heart but also meet my billable hours lmao

BONUS. What’s amount bonus do you get, and how often? Including bonus structure (ex for meeting billable hours), firm/boss randomly bonuses you, Christmas bonus, etc)

What’s your current billable rate and salary?

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?

I currently work at a medium sized firm and have about two years experience in personal injury litigation. The billable hours and lack of work life balance are really getting to me and I am looking to switch to something else out of litigation, preferably in house. I am also looking to relocate to a different state. How do I go about properly marketing myself to companies that might not take my relocation and minimal experience seriously?

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.

Any insight into Jackson Lewis NYC office? Compensation, billable hours, WLB? I would be a 2-3 year

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.

As a (class of 2020) second year whose several classmates from different groups are already thinking about leaving/going to other firms, should I explore other options too? Don’t know if they’re being dramatic about how bad it is or if I’m just drinking the koolaid in my group?

Hi fishes,
What questions shall I expect during the VP round for Genpact??
Please help.

Is anyone here working in coforge banglore location???

Does Coforge pays the Variable full?

Looking for a down vest that’s slim enough to fit under a blazer or top coat, but warm enough for temps at or around freezing. Just looking to layer without looking puffed up.

How many likes does it take to unlock the DMs?

Anyone in here have a hospital job for a unit secretary position? How much does it pay in California? Any help is greatly appreciated

The thought of Attorneys talking down on Paralegals is sickening.

Hi All,

If i accept the offer of company Abc (MNC) to get a counter offer and after getting better offer then if declined company Abc offer, then any penalty needs to be pay for 2 month?

Could you please help me out here.

Don't miss out 3rd Annual Dementia Congress 2023 on May 22-23, 2023! Recommended by Ruth Finch at 2022 NPA Annual Conference via Whova event app

Do you get the feeling that there is a higher image promotion of women/minority people in Tech?I have seen way to many pictures from major tech companies that promote far more women/minorities than white males in their marketing materials.Wouldn't be better if we hired the best people no matter what the race/gender is?I know some companies are not publishing any gender/race stats but you cant't really demand a 50/50 ratio.Also there is no coincidence that most execs is some companies are British. So this goes both ways.

What are the typical vehicles VPs and Directors are driving these days?

Who wants to start a Fantasy football league?

SOS I’m a first year teacher. I’m at a VERY challenging school district & a different culture than I’ve ever been around before. I cant get through a full day’s lesson! I spend more time disciplining!

Amazonians: is Amazon corporate totally freaking out about that center in Staten Island that unionized? Unions could kill Amazon.

Recently laid off and looking for recruiters that specialize in media/strategy/advertising (both agency and client side). Sure there are others looking as well - would greatly appreciate any info.

Oh nooo, one of my childhood friends is a Karen 🤦‍♀️

My stress level is so high I'm seeing double.

Leaving after one year to another biglaw firm?

First year: how long without a full ramp up before I should worry? I’m sub-250 hours since I started (3.5 months) and the firm/group are both busy. Other first years in my group are mixed. Worried I’m missing the reps that first years are getting at other firms. Enjoying the freedom while I have it, but I’m still thinking this is odd. Any advice, action steps, anecdotes, etc. appreciated.

What would be an appropriate gift if I want to show appreciation to my juniors before leaving the firm to go in house? What about for partner/counsel?

Any idea why certain of the larger biglaw firms do not allow descriptive associate website bios unlike the more middle v100 firms?

Would it be a bad idea to request another deferral from my firm to clerk for another year for the same judge given the rumors of layoffs?

I’m a true night-owl that begins thinking clearly about 5 PM. I often send projects out after midnight. Early morning emails and calls are an adventure. Has anyone else had to work through this issue? Fight it or embrace it?

Random partner asked a litigation-related question to a partner I frequently work with (i’m a transactional associate). My partner cc’d me and said for me to briefly look. Asked the library. They got me a great case. Sent it back. Now the random partner is asking for more cases in another circuit.

I haven’t done caselaw research since 1L and this isn’t even my practice… wtf do I do (I am fully utilized in my normal work and have a few deals closing soon…)

Is getting into crypto law a bad idea or is it a burgeoning field??

How does one go about switching practice groups within the same firm? I was under the impression it’s better to lateral elsewhere but I do really like my firm, just not the work in this practice area. Want to switch from transactional to litigation.

What’s the deal with RFPs? I’ve spent countless [non-billable] hours on several of them only to find out that I’m not included in the actual proposal (the document sent to the client showcasing the proposed case team). Is this normal?

When and how do you push back on people senior to you? Fifth year dealing with supersenior associate (11th year) who completely lacks good judgment & common sense. One of those super smart but impractical types. As just one example, he recently called me to tell me to call someone who’s on vacation and ask them to send a calendar invite. I offered to send myself but apparently that wouldn’t work (presumably because it would be efficient & make sense.) At what point (and how) do I Just Say No?

Are all you associates getting crushed right now? I haven’t had a breather in months. No amount of bonus seems worth it right now

Any thoughts on NRF (Norton Rose Fulbright) in D.C.?

As a first year - if you like working with a particular partner a lot, is it a good idea to just volunteer for all the work they have for you to do, or is it better to try to get a balance of different work from the practice group? Not trying to come off like Incrediboy.

Got screamed at again by my partner today. The other partners are wonderful. Glad I've been talking to a couple of recruiters as I'm now officially ready to move. Sigh😕.

Anyone know why they call market paying firms “Biglaw”? Why not “Top Dollar Firms”?

Dear first years,

When my door is closed, I am in the middle of something and trying to focus. Please stop knocking and letting yourself in to chat. I want to help you, I really do, but if my door is closed it means I am not able to help you right this second. I promise that my door will be open when I am available to do so.

Signed,
An overwhelmed second year

Edit: any advice on how to say this IRL without crushing their spirits?

Any insight on Latham NY capital markets culture?

I’m a junior and I have the opportunity to join the employment and benefits group as a specialist. The alternative is VC/M&A.

I’m under the impression that joining the EB group will still give me decent exit ops, has more manageable workflow (less unexpected dumpster fires like in deal-work), and a somewhat better WLB because of my previous point.

Any disagreement/any other things I should consider before deciding?

Any insight on Brewer (either office, generally curious about the firm). I assume comp after year 1 is discretionary, rather than lock-step, given the size of the firm. Would appreciate happiness, horror stories, of whatever “firm culture” falls between the two. DM me if you don’t want to share publicly.