Will “AI efficiencies” finally force agencies to change how they bill?

We’re reliant on billable hours, and if AI actually delivers what it promises and increases efficiencies that means there’s going to be fewer hours to bill. Lay off however many people you want, but the agency is still going to be billing fewer hours and not making as much money.

Does any shop have a robust enough new business model to match that? Is there even that much work out there?

What is the expectation at your firms about coming into work after making your billable hours requirement? Asking especially for those who do not get a bonus per extra hour billed over the minimum.

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

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

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

Has anyone here worked (or does anyone currently work) for Bernstein Litowitz (aka BLBG)? Very interested to learn what inside associates feel about the firm, its culture, work-life balance, billable hours, etc.

How do firms give bonuses to associate attorneys? Quarterly, monthly, annually? What is a bonus based on? Money recieved, billable hours, etc?

I'm looking to set up a bonus structure for a new associate.

Does anyone know the billable hours goal for managers at EY?

I wonder if we’ll still have minimum billable hours if WWIII breaks out

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.

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

Is there an appropriate way to turn down an assignment because it is non-billable? Two of the partners I work for keep asking me to write client bulletins and articles with them, which is great, but now I’m starting to worry about meeting my billable hours requirement.

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.

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?

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?

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

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

There is almost nowhere to find reliable bonus information on Canadian firms. I’ve heard of year end bonuses ranging from 10-50% this year (not including Covid bonuses). Let’s start a thread posting year of call, rough billable hours worked and bonus as a percent of salary.

5 year call. 1850 hours. 10%.

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

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

Folks that got a prenup. How and where did you get it? We have spoken to a couple of lawyers and it simply seems to be a back and forth they want to do to rack up billable hours/complicate the issue. My SO and I pretty much know what we want. We are doing it mainly to protect my SOs inheritance. Looking for the simplest way to execute this. TIA for any advice.

Hi Everyone, my LWD is on 3rd Sept this friday. I need to submit my laptop. I am working from another city. Wanted to know if its safe to dispatch laptop via EY courier partner.

I’m so happy this bowl exists 🥹🫶🏼

I had very positive feedback on my interviews for a S&O role but the team hired someone internally. If I interview again for a differenr role, would I have to do all the interviews again or can I use some of the scores from previous interviews. I understand doing RRK again makes sense but what about GCA, googlyness or leadership . Thank you

Have you talked about your wedding with coworkers? I made the mistake of saying I had to leave work a little early one day because I was going to do a tasting at my venue. That starts a debate on why one shouldn’t get married, how much wedding costs & what a waste it is, dresses are stupid because you only wear them once, etc. I haven’t talked about my wedding much, but I didn’t appreciate this. I ignored the negative comments and we moved the conversation along. Not talking about that anymore!

Would anyone be interested in participating in a research study? The only requirements are to be a school district employee and have a child in the district with special needs. Please help!!!

Any firm in California still hiring junior Corporate M&A/PE associates?

Anyone knew or worked with Karen Ward?

Hi,
As of now I got into PIP so does it indirectly means that i will be fired.?

I have 2-3 years of experience as a PO, pretty early stage in my career.
Please help me compare tech roles in big 4 vs financial services in terms of culture, work life balance etc?

Has anyone had success with doneadhd or cerebral? Please share your thoughts on the online services!

I’ve 3 years of sales experience in retail ( reached 90k over target) and 2 years of digital marketing experience, I love selling and building connections with people, I want to join a Saas company and work as a SDR but keeping getting rejected due to the fact that I’ve no saas selling experience. I love to learn! Is there any recommended courses or anything I can do to get my foot in the door?

I’m a native English and mandarin speaker based in Dublin, Ireland.

Just wondering if I got lowballed, should a software tester get paid 65k, entry level/straight out of college with a CS degree in the DC area

How fair is it for the firms to pay different salaries for the same work in different countries? or lower salaries to employees from the developing nations even though they might be working directly with the client or leading projects?
Cost of living is definitely one factor but how would you counter when a Consultant from Mexico and a Consultant from US want to go on a vacation to UK?

Terrible culture at Moelis true?

Does anyone if there is anything legally a company can do to you if you don’t provide a two weeks notice when quitting? I’ve heard corporate talking about charging people for leaving without proper notice but this doesn’t sound legal.

Hello everyone! I am an analyst at a PE firm wanting to move to Sales (particularly in tech). I have been working in the TMT sector in finance for 8 months and I am looking to vecome more knowledgeable in this new sector (tech sales). Does anyone have any advice regarding jon opportunities /best companies / any other relevant info? Thanks!
P.s - I am spanish an would prefer to work in Spain, although i wouldn't mind travelling if the opportunity is lucrative!

Hey guys, question regarding new years resolutions. Anyone know some good books about how to lead better and step up to become a great CD?

How can I help our UX/UI people and developers become more familiar with conceptual advertising? One Show books? Hey Whipple, Squeeze This?

FCB Health Chicago - What’s it like?

Who are the good international recruiters?

When you know where you want to work, who do you reach out to first — the hr/talent/recruiter or directly to the CD or ECD depending on level? Or both?

Where do you stay up to date in the best ideas from the industry?

Just found out I’m getting laid off in two weeks. How do I stay motivated to do work until then?

What do you do when there’s absolutely nothing going on at work? The projects I’m working on are all in production, and I’ve raised my hand several times about taking on new work, but there’s nothing right now. Don’t get me wrong, the down-time is nice…but I’m hungry to make stuff.

I need help/advice/emotional support/literally anything.

I’m an in-house designer. My company decided to offer social media marketing packages to our clients. Today they asked me to take full ownership of that outside social media marketing on top of my current job duties.

I expressed a need for a promotion or raise to compensate for the major increase in responsibility, a responsibility that is not currently in my description.

They pushed back.

Wtf do I do

How do agencies decide how much to bill clients? How much is their retention usually?

Kind of wanna move to Europe, where do I find an awesome job europeople? CD.

AKQA NY thoughts?

Things are apparently going to get better after a client will be leaving, I’ll get to work on different brands but I am feeling pretty burnt out from the agency I’m at. Will new clients help? Or should I look elsewhere. Been at the agency almost 3 years, I feel like I need to switch things up for my sanity.

I Have a HR scheduled meeting, in the morning. Is that Sus?

Just became an ACD. Im in a limbo. Half of the time im being treated as a Super Senior AD and the other half im being treated as a Almost CD. Then when im scoped over work that my CD and I oversee, some people are asking me how does my role differ from the CD’s, as they tend to look at me as an unnecessary layer for approvals. In a way, i do the job so well that i get asked to do more AD projs and guide more projs — but then: wtf does my CD do? They mostly just 👍🏻what i direct n approve

I love living in NYC. Unfortunately, I haven’t found the kind of job I want here. Can someone suggest me other states where creative agencies are actually hiring?

My first jr ad interview is coming up. What can I expect? What kind of questions will I be asked? Any device would be lovely.

Does anybody know which are the best in-house agencies to work for? Thanks!

Anyone have the story behind how the atrocity that is “taste the feeling” got made?