This may be just a naive/dumb question, but how do you relax when you’ve got a really stressful file? I’m a junior and I’ve been putting in ~10ish billable hours a day recently, which is more than I’m used to. The evenings (post-8pm) are generally my time to decompress - read a book, watch dumb tv, whatever - but it’s been all work lately until 10 or 11pm and I struggle to go straight from work to bed. Any insight on what everyone else does?

What matters more - billable hours or quality of work? It seems like I have a good reputation for always being available, but personally, I don't think I am doing my best work as I'm overloaded. Does billing well matter more than quality work? Just started in the spring as midlevel.

Anyone else work in ID/litigation with high billable targets, plus a working spouse and young children? Any time management tips and examples? Been doing this over a year now and feeling like it may not be sustainable if I actually want to spend time with my family and not choose between that or sleep. Seems like burnout is setting in.

When lateraling to another defense firm, is it necessary to show billable hours at current firm?

Does anyone have insight into A&M WLB, comp, benefits, etc they are willing to share? At a high level I get that the bonus is a portion of billable hours*bill rate* collection %, but any additional insight is greatly appreciated! Interviewing for a manager position in PEPI

Ever a good idea to out a lazy supervising attorney? I’m a mid level working for a junior partner that reports to managing partner. Junior partner misses meetings, calls, is always late, misses deadlines, etc. He meets billable requirements by taking easy assignments on large docket but does not actually work the cases until a big deadline comes up, when the case inevitably ends on my desk because I’m the “go-to” for very hard cases. Ever a good idea to put someone whose laziness goes undetected

What does everyone have for billable hours?

Weird but serious question. How do you deal with bathroom breaks and billable hours? I try hard to stay hydrated because it helps me focus and is obviously good for me, but then I feel like I’m having to pee every 30 minutes, which ends up being disruptive to my work. Any insight or tips on how this works would be great. 😅

So I have completely lost interest in my area of practice mainly because I haven’t been exposed to many matters (our team is really slow) and I am the most junior in the team. So billable work is never constant. I feel like this has impacted my interest and stagnated my growth. I am thinking of moving into a different area of practice that I’m interested in. Has anyone ever done this? I’m actually depressed and I really hate being given work now. I have ADHD. Please advise

I’m back to having no billable work again. My department almost completely dried up when covid started, so I’ve been relying on work from other busy departments at my firm to keep me busy since March. I feel like I start a new job every couple of weeks and am constantly begging for work. I’m just exhausted. Can anyone else relate?

Salary survey:

Base:
Years:
Number of attorneys:
Yearly billable requirements:
Bonus:

Just curious, what percentage of your billable rate do you take home? Calculation would be ((Salary and Bonus/Yearly Billable Hours)/Billable Rate). For me it's about 18% as a Senior 1 in M&A Tax (note this doesn't include other benefits).

I’ve worked the last nine years for my state legislature as an attorney analyst, drafting and analyzing proposed legislation. I’ve primarily worked on health professional regulations. Next year, I will apply for student loans forgiveness under the public service program and would like a change. I know others who have gone into lobbying/government relations, but I would like to find other options to pursue. I’ve never done billable work so not sure if law firm life is for me. Any suggestions?

In your experience, how accurate has the Robert Half Salary Guide been? Small law in LCOL area. Fourth year associate trying to figure out appropriate salary range. I’ve heard the 1/3 of your billable time value as well? Any guidance appreciated.

As a new hire, what’s the better approach? Go around looking (begging) for billable hours or sit tight at my desk for 8 hours a day and study for the CPA exam?

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?

Does your firm require Pro Bono? If so, how many hours and is it counted towards your billable hours?

Worked 120 hrs on a project , got only 50 billable hrs ...ye kya trend hai Deloitte ka?? And How to escape such situations ?

What is your annual billable hours target? Looking to see what the norm is.

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

What are the best resume formats for account/brand marketing roles?

I don’t want a significant other or to get married ever and have kids. I like that I can spend the money I make on me and only me. 25 yo M here

Got an offer from amazon 105k including signing bonus and additional rsus vested over 4 years. Will be promoted to M1 this year. Thoughts??

My current employer is giving me letting me consume all the leaves. I am forced to do work.
I have 1 month remaining in lwd. I have good offer in hand.
What should I do?
Should I go in one whole week leave saying my mother had heart attack or anything like that?
Will it affect myreleving letter? Will it affect my LWD? I am a SSE having 8.5 yoe.

How much do you make as an SE?

Anyone know anything about trying to work in house in certain industries? I’d like to move into media (publishing, entertainment, etc.) because I don’t want to stay in law forever but am having a hard time connecting to the right people

Can anyone recommend a naturopath or wellness doctor in NYC? I’m sick with the flu for the 3rd time and I think it’s time to get checked out. (Preferably looking for female doctors/practitioners)

Though more flexible and slightly shorter working hours, pressure from buy side work freaks me out.

Why did Deloitte’s federal practice have layoffs? Given that the clients are large government entities. I can understand it happening in commercial but federal makes no sense

Do you do wedding gifts for a destination wedding? I’m going to be best man and don’t know the etiquette. We’re all like 25 and paying $2k to go there

What does everyone have for billable hours?

If anyone with 1 YOE or higher (non-internship experience) is looking for a referral to EY's Oracle Services practice, DM me. Referring for Staff 2, Seniors, Managers, Senior Managers and above. They are scrambling to fill many senior roles due to our practice's rapid growth.

8 Bullet points in my resume additionals, is this too much?

That moment when you wake up in the am to 14 meeting requests 🤡

I have received a feedback link to recieve enterprise ID after my onboarding. But the link is not accessible. Can someone tell me what to do and whom to contact?

Engineers with anxiety, are there any changes you’ve made at work that have helped you cope with job stress?

6 interviews. SIX. And they could not understand my role through all the situations they asked me to tell them.
I could have lied, of course. But for what?
Sometimes I think it’s just better like that. There is a reason for everything, and for rejections too. I do only feel sorry for all the time lost to actually prepare and do 6 interviews.
These kind of processes are really draining.

How are things at Ogilvy nowadays? Eyeing an AS opening...

Senior associate looking to take the CA bar in February 2022. Any thoughts on the pros/cons of taking the full exam versus the shorter attorney exam? Not planning to work during prep.

Thinking of giving notice this week with last day being July 30th. I have vacation time for a trip to Puerto Rico already approved from the 17th to the 21st that I can’t cancel. What is the likely outcome of me giving notice? Firm likely expects it or won’t fight me on it. Will they even let me close out the month?

I am concerned with fulfilling billable hours requirement. I’m required to hit 2100 hours yearly and I’m at ~1,500 hours and I think I’ll hit 150-180hours this month. What will happen if I don’t hit my targeted amount by the end of my year.

I have terrible penmanship and can't write notes fast enough when partners are giving me instructions or directions. What's an effective way to capture more information and not miss things?

Anyone else work in ID/litigation with high billable targets, plus a working spouse and young children? Any time management tips and examples? Been doing this over a year now and feeling like it may not be sustainable if I actually want to spend time with my family and not choose between that or sleep. Seems like burnout is setting in.

In my experience pro se litigants normally appear crazy. I have an appeal of a police licensing decision that I want to do pro se because I don't think it's that complicated, I can't find a lawyer I like / trust in this area, and they all want a ton of money to do it.

What is your opinion on lawyers representing themselves pro se?

Has anyone started in-house and made the transition to a firm? I started in-house right out of law school, but I’m looking to make a move at some point. The perks of in-house are great, but I have a lack of motivation most days and would like to get more exposure by working at a firm. Any advice or success stories would be appreciated.

Hello, first year associate trying to pick a writing sample for another litigation position I'm applying for. I've been in my current litigation position for 1 year. Any advice on what kind of motion would be best?

I've written motions to compel discovery or deposition appearance, MIL to preclude evidence or testimony, MIL to limit scope of testimony, motion in response to plaintiff's objection, statement of facts?

I feel it is probably a good time to stop using my 1L writing sample.

If you're negotiating a start date with a new firm and you need to give your current firm 2 weeks and want some time to yourself before starting, but you already have a vacation planned in the early fall, is it an issue to take 2-3 weeks before starting as long as you're clear that you have a pre-planned trip?

When lateraling to another defense firm, is it necessary to show billable hours at current firm?

Anyone have a nice standard email they use to ask opposing counsel if they’d be open to mediation? I always worry I’m being too short or long-winded. Can’t seem to find a happy medium.

I’m plaintiff’s side employment litigator. I want desperately to switch back to defense. But here’s the wrinkle… I have a fairly sizable docket of active cases in which I am opposing counsel to virtually all the defense side firms I’d like to work for. Is there an ethical way to navigate this conundrum, or am I just stuck?

Do you feel your federal clerkship actually helped you become a better litigator or is it just resume dressing?
- someone who is having difficulty with the idea of taking a $100k paycut

What are your repayment plans for student loans?

What do you suggest doing for work in the interim between moving to a new state and passing the bar in the new state?

Desperately trying to get out of ID after two years. Would moving up to a larger firm like WSHB be worth it with the ultimate goal of getting into commercial or corporate lit in the future? Definitely a better firm then where I’m at but my goal is feeling more and more futile by the day

Does anyone also feel like partners talk way too fast to take notes? I try my best but always miss things. I thought about recording audio notes but I don’t want to violate privacy.

Thoughts on eating while on zoom with clients?