Tips for SA's on Billing

[Anonymous User]

So I'm only a couple of days into my firm SA gig, and I've got some major concerns about billable hours. Yesterday, I worked for 10 hours and was only able to bill around 4. Today, I worked 13 and was only able to bill about 5. This is largely because I am constantly being pulled aside for other things--in court hearings (non-billable unfortunately), lunches, dinners, etc. I've already got to come in and work this weekend just to catch up. I don't want to constantly turn down attorneys on outside matters because I want to get to know them. At the same time, I don't want to be working an inordinate amount of time and not have it show whatsoever. Does anybody have any tips on what they learned over the course of the SA on how to increase hours?

[ben4847]

So I'm only a couple of days into my firm SA gig, and I've got some major concerns about billable hours. Yesterday, I worked for 10 hours and was only able to bill around 4. Today, I worked 13 and was only able to bill about 5. This is largely because I am constantly being pulled aside for other things--in court hearings (non-billable unfortunately), lunches, dinners, etc. I've already got to come in and work this weekend just to catch up. I don't want to constantly turn down attorneys on outside matters because I want to get to know them. At the same time, I don't want to be working an inordinate amount of time and not have it show whatsoever. Does anybody have any tips on what they learned over the course of the SA on how to increase hours?

I haven't billed a single hour to a client yet. And I certainly haven't been in the office more than 10 hours on any day. I'm sure happy I'm not at your firm.

[Richie Tenenbaum]

I did not expect to be required to do a set amount of billable hours as an SA. (I haven't started yet.) Is this somewhat typical?

[Anonymous User]

So I'm only a couple of days into my firm SA gig, and I've got some major concerns about billable hours. Yesterday, I worked for 10 hours and was only able to bill around 4. Today, I worked 13 and was only able to bill about 5. This is largely because I am constantly being pulled aside for other things--in court hearings (non-billable unfortunately), lunches, dinners, etc. I've already got to come in and work this weekend just to catch up. I don't want to constantly turn down attorneys on outside matters because I want to get to know them. At the same time, I don't want to be working an inordinate amount of time and not have it show whatsoever. Does anybody have any tips on what they learned over the course of the SA on how to increase hours?

Most firms don't even bill summer associate time to their actual clients. I know my firm's policy is to not bill out SA time. Chill out.

[Anonymous Loser]

At the same time, I don't want to be working an inordinate amount of time and not have it show whatsoever. Does anybody have any tips on what they learned over the course of the SA on how to increase hours?

Most firms have some way to account for non-billable time. Are you certain there aren't billing codes you should be using to record the time you spend on these activities?

As for increasing billable hours, I suspect you will find that there are fewer non-billable demands on your time after the first week is over.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. Let me just re-iterate a few things: 1. my firm does not require a set amount of hours for SA's. 2. I am still billing for the non-billable things as well. I guess maybe I'm just taking this too seriously? (is that possible?). I just really want to get an offer from this firm, and therefore I want to not only impress them socially in terms of interaction with other attorneys, but also professionally by performing quality, substantive work, and lots of it. I haven't been required to stay longer. I've chosen to. I just want to capitalize on that extra time as much as possible. I don't want to come in on weekends just to keep my head above water. I would prefer to be billing around 8 hours a day or so on a daily basis, including the weekends. I was just wondering if any former SA's out there had some tips on walking this fine line between social interaction and substantive work and could impart their wisdom on what they would do differently from the beginning, if anything at all.

[cpdc2013]

8 billable hours a day seems like A LOT for a summer. you can probably impress partners etc. w/out billing that much. it might even make you look a little odd to bill so much.

[RMstratosphere]

You don't need to bill 8 hours a day. No summer, in the history of summers, has had to bill 8 hours a day.

[ben4847]

I be billin' 80 a week. While you folks are all still summer associates, I'm gonna be the youngest summer partner.

[r6_philly]

My firm wants us to "bill" around 8 hours per day, that means client matters and other firm-related matters. We have a list of codes to bill to if we are just doing stuff, and we put in client matters when we work on real work. I would be surprised if we bill more than 20 hours to client matters. I am not sure if my firm bill our time out, but we are encouraged to bill time to client matters when we work on them.

[Stanford4Me]

Don't worry about it. You're obviously not partner material.

[Big Shrimpin]

It's normal for an SA to not have that many billable hours (and all or most of those hours will be written off). I wouldn't worry about it.

This.

[Anonymous User]

My firm expects summers to bill around 20-25 a week.

[dowu]

[blurbz]

I be billin' 80 a week. While you folks are all still summer associates, I'm gonna be the youngest summer partner.

Lol, no.

...woooooosh.

[Anonymous User]

Is it common for SAs or even associates to fudge billable hours?

[Geist13]

It blows my mind that clients agree to pay for a summer associate's time. I'm the fucking client. No way am I paying for that shit.

[Old Gregg]

It blows my mind that clients agree to pay for a summer associate's time. I'm the fucking client. No way am I paying for that shit.

That's why most of it is written off.

Depends on firm.

[jhett]

I would prefer to be billing around 8 hours a day or so on a daily basis, including the weekends. I was just wondering if any former SA's out there had some tips on walking this fine line between social interaction and substantive work and could impart their wisdom on what they would do differently from the beginning, if anything at all.

Dude... cool it. Almost no firm expects you to bill that much. Honestly, if I saw one of our summers billing this intensely at my firm, I would tell them to relax. Seriously, we look at you guys as kids. You know little compared to us and can do little compared to us. We will not hold this against you. Just have some fun, do good work on what you are given, and CHILL OUT.

[Anonymous User]

do firms even have a billable hour requirement for SAs?

[r6_philly]

do firms even have a billable hour requirement for SAs?

See my post above. We have a "guideline" or "goal," but I was told we can just do whatever as long as we finish assigned work.

[rayiner]

You're not going to impress people by doing a "ton of hours." Nobody is even looking at your hours. You're evaluated on feedback from people you work with, not hours. Do less, higher quality work (and trust me, as an SA you are doing low quality work even at your best, but putting more hours into each assignment will yield better work).

[CanadianWolf]

Although it may vary by firm, billable hours are usually not a SA's priority, although you shouldn't neglect your time sheet. Fit with the firm & quality of work are more important for SAs. Partners & associates want to know that they can rely on you to do high quality work when & where needed.

[CanadianWolf]

Quality, not quantity.

[themillsman22]

You are working way too hard. You can impress by working far less and doing a better job on the projects you do. Focus more attention on building relationships (i.e., letting people know you are normal and can hold a conversation). The previous few posters are correct. Quality of work (not quantity) and fit with the firm. That's what you need to focus on.