What does it mean when a firm doesnt have a required number of billable hours but has an expected target? Isnt it essentially the same thing…?

Do any firms give billable credit for business development? My practice group is particularly BD heavy and I’m trying to convince them to give us billable hours credit

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.

Has anyone made a move from a boutique firm to Big Law, regretted it, stuck it out, and found success? I am in the ‘regretted it’ phase, but it may be culture shock. I started as a legal assistant for a solo practitioner 11 years ago and am now an IP Paralegal. I’ve never had keep track of billable time, and I think that’s one of the biggest adjustments.

If you don’t have 8 hours of billable time a day, do you leave as is or do you fill in the gap with non-billable work? While I am in the office, I don’t always get the billable amount since I don’t have enough work. Seems like a waste of time to enter non-billable time just to fill in the gap but I also don’t want them to think I am not there and slacking off.

What’s the norm?

This might sound like a crazy question but never having worked in public before: Billable hours - if you’re very efficient at your job, do you stretch out the time and work slower to get to your billable hours or do you safe the client the money. In a Situation where you don’t have other projects to work on. Tell me the ins and outs of working billable hours for a complete newbie.

What matters more: meeting/exceeding billable requirements or doing high quality work well above your class year?

Working at ID firm in NYC, 2 years in. Not thrilled with salary (under 125k). 2000 billable goal, will hit it. Should I be looking elsewhere?

I am a 10 yr lawyer. 7 yrs in my practice area. Little over a year at current firm. Still an associate. Im at large plaintiff firm w/ billable requirements. I do mass/class cases and hold a couple leadership positions (these were competitive to get). What should salary be and when should I make partner. I’ll add I work remote and pretty autonomously. Little contact with partners or anyone at my firm.

15+ years experience in Forensic Accounting. What would be considered fair pay in the NYC area? Average yearly Billings was 2,500, however recently took over the building out of systems, training younger staff, more marketing in a set region; basically more non billable work.

Opportunity freelancers - What’s your goal for billable hours per week?

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

Wondering what average billable hours are for 2022.

Has anyone transitioned from Tax to RM? Could you share your experience and pros/cons of the change? Really want to get out of client facing/billable work, but I like my firm. Thank you!

I have a question about mid-size Philadelphia law firms. Does anyone have any insight about what life is like (culture, pay, billable hours, cases, WFH, perks, etc.) as a junior partner/senior associate/of counsel in the litigation department at the following firms: Montgomery McCracken, Schnader Harrison, Stradley Ronon, Dilworth Paxson, Klehr Harrison?

Did the billable hours bonus not get paid out today? Or is it to be paid in the next check?

Advice for young attorneys dealing with non-billable workload? I’m still my first two months at my firm but a ton of the work I’m being assigned is non-billable. I understand if I’m not still fully on boarded but how are we supposed to keep up billables while being given time consuming non billable work?

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

ID Associates…how the hell do you reach your billable requirements? Just started at an ID firm and am lost as to how it’s possible when there is so much daily grind type work that you cannot bill for. Someone enlighten me.

What does everyone have for billable hours?

Is it strange that anyone at my firm (associates/partners) can look up where any lawyer is on billable time for the month? I’m a third year lateral, and my old firm didn’t do that. Is that normal? Feels invasive

Thoughts on Cuomo’s decision to reopen schools?

I have been released from my unit today and transferred to STGPW unit for power programmer training and my project code is also changed to training project code..Will I be eligible for July hike? I have 1.8 years of experience

Jacobson Rost, anyone heard of em?

All my ad friends know when I’m posting on fishbowl, because apparently I’m the only who types y’all on here 🤦‍♂️

Pros and cons of a job with 80-100% travel? Offered a job in consulting but that’s the only potential drawback. Not sure how I feel about it. Would love some insight please

Podcasters or Podcast Managers! What are some tips or growth strategies that you current use to help organically grow your podcast listeners?

Are you currently using reels and IG and/or video content options (video on Spotify or YT) for more growth?

Looking for more tips!

I need a mentor to discuss which career path I should choose between prod mgmt and consulting. I am confused and need help. Can anyone help me?
Thanks in advance

Make sure you go out and vote!!

Hello guys. Is it okay to build a career in enabling areas in DeloitteUSI or should I be looking for something better? What I heard is in EA one doesnt get much hike with respect to other depts.

AD told me ~year for pretty much any Overseas.

Is this consistent with what the streets are hearing?

Can I join Mckinsey as an experienced BA or BA2 if I'm interviewing as an experienced hire with 1YOE at a T2 firm? I know BA1's have a $100k base. Does anyone know what the comp is for BA2's/experienced BA's?

It's March, and I have done a lot of seminars in Jan and Feb. I've gotten a few clients but would like to increase AUM drastically! Any books, sites or advice on what I can do for marketing?

Is there anyone that works for Gallagher Basset as a claims adjuster and willing to share their experience? I’ve been receiving quite a bit of contact from multiple recruiters over the past several months. I am concerned from reviews I’ve read and it appears they have a very high turnover rate.

🙋 show of hands, how many of your firms are doing something for IWD? Do they have initiatives or groups catered for women employees? I feel like it's hard to meet/get to kno other women at my office

Anyone have family that lives 30 - 40 mins away? If so, how often do you see them?

Today i had such a bad experience with CGI. If the panel is not ready to interview then why they are scheduling and wasting my time. The interviewer attitude was very rude which me made me frustrated Nd came out of interview in middle

Bonuses at Dentons - Mid level, making market in a big city and hit my hours (annualized) for the year. What can I expect around bonus time?

What are your career ambitions?

Breaking up with a long-term (live-in) girlfriend and moving into my own place. Friends have been tough to make because… well, this is the big law bowl, after all. Any tips for staving off loneliness after hours/being more than just a Skadden guy?

Literally only a couple months in and want to quit. In all seriousness, does it ever get better? Is it supposed to kick us in the ass this hard or is it just me? 😣

Had a (Zoom) training today with some fellow junior associates where talked primarily about diversity in our firm. 1 associate (a man) characterized women leaving the firm after starting families as their "independent choices", which I understood to imply that there is nothing wrong with the profession and women leave because they want to focus on families. The group spoke up and rebutted this but it got me thinking -

Do partners feel the same? Are partners thinking about (cont.)

Work to Billable Ratio First-year: interesting observation after about three months of work, I bill about 2/3 of my “working time.” I’ve compared my productive days because I’ve had some pretty intense outliers recently. On days where I bill 8+, the work to bill ratio is exactly about 66%. Work 12, bill 8. Work 18, bill 12. Have you noticed any interesting trends about your billables like this?

Curious what associates are predicting the WFH policies will be at most firms in, say, a month from now (March/April)?

2nd yr lit associate at SF Big Law. I'm considering a move to a L&E firm (e.g., Littler, JL, FP) as my current firm isn't giving me enough of the type of work I would like. There just does not seem to be enough L&E work to go around, and I find myself doing a lot of work in an area (construction) that doesn't lend itself to a ton opportunities outside of a law firm/Big Law firm.
Is this foolish? Anyone else made this move? If the lifestyle just as bad, but with less pay? Any other thoughts?

It's me, the infamous NYC tax attorney. I wasn't going to update you on the story but I will give you guys an update. FIRST THING in the morning the junior approached me at our office today and told me that one of the partners came up to him and explained to him that if he wants to be successful at our firm, he needs to be more observant and pay attention to the seniors. He says that the partner told him that upsetting seniors can lead to not getting work and thus not meeting hours.

I’ve heard some firms are increasing clerkship bonuses from the normal market rate. Do you know of any firms that typically pay market rates ($70k for two clerkships) who are now paying more?

I realized that a senior associate has been bcc’ing the partner when they send an “admonishing email” about things I missed. This seems… kind of backstabbing but please let me know otherwise.

Can i stay a second year Associate indefinitely? You can pay me the same and ill havw the same responsibility. K thx

Do any firms give billable credit for business development? My practice group is particularly BD heavy and I’m trying to convince them to give us billable hours credit

Can someone explain why clients would care where their lawyers are working (from home or the office)? I hear lots of chatter from people at various firms that their clients are coming back to the office so they need to as well. But why would that matter (assuming it’s even true)? My clients are all over the world, and I know for a fact that none of them care if I’m in my office or somewhere else. It sounds more like trying to create a reason to make people come back, but what am I missing?

Are any first years that started in January still somewhat slow (80 hours Feb, 120 March, 160 April, 180 May, 240 June, 100 so far in July) and nervous about the incoming classes starting in October? I genuinely am not sure my firm has enough work for all of us. My team feels very junior heavy. I am not too worried about job security but do want these bonuses…

Do other firms have mandatory department meetings? Practice group meetings?

I gave notice on Monday at my current firm, and Partner says he wants to discuss my move further (probably to try to keep me at the firm). I already accepted new firm’s offer but Partner still hasn’t discussed anything with me and at this point I need to start discussing with the other Partners about my transition. Should I pressure the Partner that wants to discuss my move further and let him know I’d like to start the transition process or should I wait for him to reach out? TIA

Is it just me or does this forum lean lit?

If you don’t have 8 hours of billable time a day, do you leave as is or do you fill in the gap with non-billable work? While I am in the office, I don’t always get the billable amount since I don’t have enough work. Seems like a waste of time to enter non-billable time just to fill in the gap but I also don’t want them to think I am not there and slacking off.

What’s the norm?

Any suckers on the east coast still working? Please tell me I’m not alone out here!