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?

What are firm’s known billable requirements? Is there a ramp up period?

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.

I had one of those VERY nonproductive days today. I think I accomplished maybe an hour of billable work, even though I had a bunch of stuff to do. I just came off a 300 hour month, and unexpectedly got a continuance on a deadline on Wednesday, and it’s like all of my motivation leeched out of me at once.

I need an assistant/paralegal. Probably part time at first. I live/work in a small city in Oklahoma, solo practice. I would like approx 10 billable hours/week (if part time) from them. What do i look for in one? Pay amount? (Most here make around $12/hour). Incentives for bonus money?

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

I have an interview with Korn Ferry for an associate principal role and am curious about others’ experiences have been with work-life balance here. Also, I have an idea of what I should be compensated in this type of role, but any insights on how they pay compared to others would be helpful. Are you traveling during the pandemic or have client interactions been virtual? Lastly, if you are a consultant here, are you on billable hours? My current consulting role is not - so this would be new.

When should a stub start getting worried about not having much work and low billable hours?
I’ve asked for work but no luck. I know they say this is normal for a stub but when should I start getting worried and consider looking for exit options? Fyi, I like my practice group, so I don’t want to change to a different group within my firm, hence would have to lateral, if I have to. Also, other co-1st years are churning in high hours.

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

What’s your current billable rate and salary?

Anyone have slow months where you burn through a lot of your allotted pro bono/professional development hours to keep hitting minimum daily hours? The past few weeks have been like this for me. Should I be concerned (I.e., will this reflect poorly on me, come review time? Will I have dug myself too much of a hole if I keep burning my non-billable hours?) I’ve been asking partners if I can assist in any projects so I can fill my plate, but I’ve only gotten small (4-6 hour) tasks handed my way.

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

If you asked to be considered for early promotion and didn’t get it (despite being highly rated, exceeding billable goal, etc) would you look elsewhere? Is it right to be angry about it? I don’t want to spin myself up unnecessarily if it’s unjustified

Received a job offer. Was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on a concern I had about it. It's an entry level position, and I don't have much experience. The billables are 2040 a year. For billable hours in civil litigation and insurance defense, is 2040 hours for a 1st year associate on the high end in this field for a small or midsize firm? It seems like most attorneys I know have minimum requirements of around 1800. The compensation is around 80k a year.

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

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?

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

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

What’s the best way to turn down a 2nd interview? During the 1st interview, I learned that the compensation for the role is not within the range that I am looking for and requires 400 more billable hours a year than what I bill now. I’d basically be laterally for my current salary just to bill 400 more hours. I also wasn’t aware that the local office was strictly ID. Firm website advertises lots of practice areas. Any advice? TIA!

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.

Any thoughts on Phillips Lytle? If you could please provide insight on culture/billable requirements? Thank you.

Anyone work at Instrument’s PDX office? Just applied for the Senior Strategist position. Have both UX and Brand experience. What’s it like to work there? Looking to move back to the PNW!

I had cleared all the rounds in S&P and had salary discussion 1.5 month back. The HR is always saying the management is on leave and will soon get the approval and release offer. Today she shas asked for one more week to release the offer. Should I wait for it or move on. Are they waiting for some other candidate to join before rejecting me at last moment. Only 10 days of my LWD are left.

Some artists you may or may not like/what I’ve been listening to:

Hail the sun
Emarosa
Dance gavin dance
Makari
Like pacific
Tonight alive
Neck deep
Brand new
Real friends
Movements

Hi,

I joined mphasis a few days back. Now I have a better job opportunity (HCL) with 20% more. Can I exit in 20 days from mphasis with prior information or should I abscond, if i abscond what are the consequences

Hi guys! Please help me with 11 likes. I am working as a Product Manager in BFSI and looking for a change in a Fintech. Appreciate your help!!

Can OSSI employee work from any Oracle office in India?

I should join Epsilon or Beckman Coulter?

Hi Fishes

I have offer with citi. But I have poor credit history/cibil score. Will citi check credit history too on background check and reject candidate?
I have another offer with TCS which will lapse by tomorrow if I don't agree.
Please share your inputs about citi's background check.

Please refer me in HCL as Service delivery manager. I have job id 1068582BR

I need 11 likes for DM

Middle market firms that do accounting advisory? Anyone have insight into accordion partners?

My husband and I are in 2nd month of trying to get pregnant. Been on BC on and off for the last 15 years. Taking prenatal vitamins, watching ovulation, watching diet, any other suggestions?

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.

Serious question: what was biglaw like back in the 90s? Did ya'll have big cellphones and catered lunches? How is it different for associates back then versus now?

Has the time of special bonuses (covid related or otherwise) passed? Asking for a friend…

Are tech trans hours better/more predictable than M&A?

Which firms have no billable requirement and centralized staffing?

Can someone explain to me what law clerks are in private practice? I'm based internationally but deal with our NY office a lot, and I can not figure out what the title actually means/where it sits.

Was interviewing with a firm and soon after receiving an offer, learned of bad culture/toxic partners in the practice group from a couple of associates who recently lateraled from the firm. I turned the offer down. A partner that I clicked with while interviewing reached out asking me why I turned down the offer. Should I be honest and relay what I heard?

Is it easy to switch from niche litigation like ip to something broader?

Anyone work in tech and blockchain? What exactly do you do?

Former big law associate here who burned out. Now a corporate inhouse counsel.

Been recovering and considering going back to actual legal practice.

I feel I need a new practice area.

One that impacts people’s lives and is meaningful, but where you don’t have to deal with disturbing facts and personal tragedies.

Any suggestions?

Give me the strength to set a boundary today and do something fun instead of waiting by my computer for emails

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?

Any news from DPW? 🤔🤔

Is an offer after only a first screener a red flag?

“Keep costs down”???? I am happy to keep costs down by not working on this ducking matter anymore. Maybe stop saying yes to matters that are too small to justify our rates and staffing an expensive senior person on them when you’re already dying trying to get anything staffed. You didn’t have to do shit on this matter, didn’t hear you complaining about my taking the lead and managing everything for you when that was happening. >.>

What’s next on your expensive wishlist to make this job a little more comforting?

Just wrapped up a deal with a regular client (although the client’s deal teams vary). I’m a Junior and did a lot of the emailing back and forth with the client and with the other side. Is it appropriate for me to add the client deal team members on LinkedIn? What about the lawyers on the other side?

Did your firm’s leadership send a message re the horrific shooting? Before I lateraled we always got emails from leadership, which IMO were very humanizing and appreciated. New firm leadership seems to just avoid — probably to not appear politically involved. Your thoughts on these types of current events and firm acknowledgment?

I’m a first year that’s inching toward second year. Partners in my group say “sometimes getting thrown into the deep end is the best way to learn.” However, I feel so lost. I feel like saying the above is just an excuse for not wanting to take the time to actually teach new associates.

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.)