What advice would you give to a new associate who starts soon but whose billable hours do not start to count until January 2022? Still bill a lot? Try and internally network more? Both?

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Do the work assigned to you, but take advantage of being slow to learn a lot about your practice area and the bigger picture of your matters. Soon you won’t have time to gradually process, so it’s best to do that now!

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Don’t worry about billing until January 2022

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Seriously travel more and catch up with friends and family.
~from a first year who missed out the chance~

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Quality > quantity. Getting a good rep early for quality work and being a team player willing to learn is invaluable.

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Learn about the bigger picture and the substantive law.

Spend time with family and friends.

Get your personal life together. Go to the doctor, dentist, etc. take your car in for maintenance. Learn some easy and healthy meals you can prep on weekends.

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thank you!

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How much will you be expected to bill in 2022? I think you’d better bill roughly 1/4 of that in the remaining 3.5 months of 2021. You think they aren’t “counting” your hours until next year but you could be wrong.

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Depends on seniority and a million other things, but I would make sure to enjoy the time within reason. It is sort of like having a pass / fail class when you are taking AP Physics with a scholarship on the line next semester. Enjoy it and get rested and ready to hit it hard in January.

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ENJOY THE DOWNTIME

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I would not recommend slacking off for the next 3 months. You don’t want the firm thinking you’re an inefficient or lazy associate. Do the work assigned to you, make yourself available for more work if there is any. Don’t use this time to take off for doctors appointments, you’re still working a full time job and need to be available during standard hours.

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Do well on your work and build good rapports. Take feedback to heart while you can. Then hit the asphalt hard in January

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