NYC Biglaw Associate Taking Q's Forum

[fats provolone]

The exercise can be insanely tedious, but it takes a sharp focus and meticulous eye.

(anon because of singular reputation for meticulous eye at firm)

[Anonymous User]

Do you consider yourself to be an extremely prestigious individual?

Nah.

[Anonymous User]

The exercise can be insanely tedious, but it takes a sharp focus and meticulous eye.

(anon because of singular reputation for meticulous eye at firm)

No, anon because I was the OP of the thread and made clear from the onset that I'm giving advice out anonymously

[fats provolone]

yea but still

[Desert Fox]

I spend 2 hours reading the Red Book today. Fuck this profession with a UVA frat.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I spend 2 hours reading the Red Book today. Fuck this profession with a UVA frat.

What is red book?

[Desert Fox]

I spend 2 hours reading the Red Book today. Fuck this profession with a UVA frat.

What is red book?

A manual on legal style by Brian A. Gardner

[fats provolone]

I spend 2 hours reading the Red Book today. Fuck this profession with a UVA frat.

What is red book?

it's about how the practices of the legal profession are shaped by an inability of its members to pass their genes on to the next generation

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else?

You mentioned earlier that some of your lit colleagues have gone in-house. Can you be a little more specific on what practice areas they were in, average experience level, type of companies they jumped to? Was this transition difficult for them?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone else?

You mentioned earlier that some of your lit colleagues have gone in-house. Can you be a little more specific on what practice areas they were in, average experience level, type of companies they jumped to? Was this transition difficult for them?

One specialized in healthcare litigation and now works for a hospital, while another focused on financial litigation and works for a large financial institution client of the firm. I think one guy went to a small tech start up, since a family friend brought him on and he was looking to get to CA. A guy in labor and employment litigation is now with a big fortune 500 company. It really varies depending on your niche within litigation, though many large companies have a general in-house litigation department for smaller matters for which no outside counsel is needed.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I've been at my firm (NYC big law v30) for 4 months. Until the last two weeks, I had a really stead workflow:40-45 hrs billable every week, plus nonbillable stuff and some pro bono. I was getting very positive feedback on my work. Two weeks ago four of the cases that I have been working on suddenly seemed to halt (two have pending SJ motions, one was dismissed (but will be refilled), one is really early with multiple defendants and we haven't answered). I am almost positive that this is why my billable work has slowed down, but sometimes I get a little paranoid and think: did I offend someone? Anyway, the last two weeks I have had on about 15hrs billable work each week and 20-30hrs nonbillable or pro bono. Is this normal? Should I try and solicit more billable work? It is a much more comfortable feeling to have a list of work than to be sitting in my office listening to music.

[Anonymous User]

I've been at my firm (NYC big law v30) for 4 months. Until the last two weeks, I had a really stead workflow:40-45 hrs billable every week, plus nonbillable stuff and some pro bono. I was getting very positive feedback on my work. Two weeks ago four of the cases that I have been working on suddenly seemed to halt (two have pending SJ motions, one was dismissed (but will be refilled), one is really early with multiple defendants and we haven't answered). I am almost positive that this is why my billable work has slowed down, but sometimes I get a little paranoid and think: did I offend someone? Anyway, the last two weeks I have had on about 15hrs billable work each week and 20-30hrs nonbillable or pro bono. Is this normal? Should I try and solicit more billable work? It is a much more comfortable feeling to have a list of work than to be sitting in my office listening to music.

OP here (barely even remembered this was my own thread seeing as its over a year old). Totally normal for this to happen during your first year. When you are just starting, you don't have a full slate of matters to work on, so you can't just reach for things on the backburner when your bigger matters have a pause.

Speak to the partners on the cases you are working on. Ask if its expected to just be a quick lull, or if they would suggest you solicit other work in the meantime. That shows them that you are putting their matters first, which they will appreciate. If the lull persists, definitely solicit around for other work (without making it sound like you are desperate for hours). You are still in the stage when its totally acceptable to knock on doors, meet people, try things out, etc. Take advantage of that.

If you can't milk any billable work out of anyone, just continue using your time productively. Keep up the pro bono, and continue doing non-billable work that helps the firm, whether it be writing articles, blogging on legal topics, preparing presentation materials, networking, or just learning about your area of law (to the extent you have already been placed into a group).