Billable Target and Bonus Forum

[barkschool]

For anyone looking for an update, I'm the anon OP. I'm ending the billable year (tomorrow) with about 1580 hours. I was called in and told the firm is paying me a full bonus because they like my work and want me to stay. Incidentally, I did not explicitly ask for a bonus - in my last meeting with the relevant partner I sort of just said I know my hours are low, I expect it was because of ramp down / up but I'm hoping that it's not a reflection of my work or something I can fix and assume this won't be the case next year. FWIW he didn't even know my hours were low.

Sounds like you handled the situation very well. Kudos on the good work and on the bonus! (And thanks for updating us.)

Honestly, i think the bonus should be split among the posters in this thread nay saying something into occurring

[Anonymous User]

Kudos to OP. I got $0 bonus my first year for having only 1500 hours. Since then, I've billed over 2200 every year since. I've had colleagues 'miss' their hours in second and third year but still get full bonus because "you were over last year, so it evens out" --- good for them, but why won't the firm true-up my first year bonus for being "over" in subsequent years?

I have a good reputation overall here and I like the people I work with so I'm not looking to leave. But you can bet that when I have to deal with interviewees on "second looks," I give them the old wink-wink "maybe you should look into bonus rules to see what firms are truly market paying, you know?" discussion and then they always go elsewhere. It's my small act of rebellion.

[Anonymous User]

Good firm - I moved to a new firm, took the bar, worked on the three highest profile matters, billed 1750 and still no bonus, despite being told I was a "rock star". Next year I hit all targets and got bonus, but still felt like I got jipped out of $15,000 that first year. Expecting to be made whole (wont happen) this year or else I'll prolly start looking in-house.

your firm has good instincts if they want to keep you around. Seems like partners love star associates until they expect to pay them as such. Thought that was the whole point of having black box comp.

[smokeylarue]

Good firm - I moved to a new firm, took the bar, worked on the three highest profile matters, billed 1750 and still no bonus, despite being told I was a "rock star". Next year I hit all targets and got bonus, but still felt like I got jipped out of $15,000 that first year. Expecting to be made whole (wont happen) this year or else I'll prolly start looking in-house.

your firm has good instincts if they want to keep you around. Seems like partners love star associates until they expect to pay them as such. Thought that was the whole point of having black box comp.

Why do you feel entitled to a bonus if you didn't hit hours though? There's usually a little flexibility if you're close, but 1750 I assume is not remotely close to the minimum needed for bonus at your firm.

[dabigchina]

Good firm - I moved to a new firm, took the bar, worked on the three highest profile matters, billed 1750 and still no bonus, despite being told I was a "rock star". Next year I hit all targets and got bonus, but still felt like I got jipped out of $15,000 that first year. Expecting to be made whole (wont happen) this year or else I'll prolly start looking in-house.

your firm has good instincts if they want to keep you around. Seems like partners love star associates until they expect to pay them as such. Thought that was the whole point of having black box comp.

Why do you feel entitled to a bonus if you didn't hit hours though? There's usually a little flexibility if you're close, but 1750 I assume is not remotely close to the minimum needed for bonus at your firm.

Sounds like she/he's at a black box firm with no hard expectations.

[nixy]

And/or they started sometime into the year so it wasn’t 1750 hours in 12 months but some lesser percentage of a year.

[lionelhutz123]

Someone who bills 1580 in a year not only does not deserve a bonus---they probably do not deserve to keep their job.

MOD NOTE:
User lionelhutz123 has been outded for anon abuse.

[LaLiLuLeLo]

Someone who bills 1580 in a year not only does not deserve a bonus---they probably do not deserve to keep their job.

ok boomer

[Anonymous User]

Good firm - I moved to a new firm, took the bar, worked on the three highest profile matters, billed 1750 and still no bonus, despite being told I was a "rock star". Next year I hit all targets and got bonus, but still felt like I got jipped out of $15,000 that first year. Expecting to be made whole (wont happen) this year or else I'll prolly start looking in-house.

your firm has good instincts if they want to keep you around. Seems like partners love star associates until they expect to pay them as such. Thought that was the whole point of having black box comp.

Why do you feel entitled to a bonus if you didn't hit hours though? There's usually a little flexibility if you're close, but 1750 I assume is not remotely close to the minimum needed for bonus at your firm.

I took time off to study for the bar, passed, and then got treated as if I worked a full 12 months. My hours were well above average for the group and I was only effectively working 10 months and closed three of the highest profile transactions for the group that year, perfect reviews, well above normal bonus threshold in things like "receivables collected" since I worked with big clients that pay their bills. I expected that I'd get a bonus based on my reviews, maybe not a lot, but at least something to be like "great work last year". Got nothing. Not a huge deal, but definitely showed me pretty fast that even partners you get along with will just run you dry and give you nothing.

[yodamiked]

Someone who bills 1580 in a year not only does not deserve a bonus---they probably do not deserve to keep their job.

MOD NOTE:
User lionelhutz123 has been outded for anon abuse.

Yikes, really drank that biglaw coolaid didn't you?