Two Weeks Into BIGLAW, Only Billed 50 Hours. How F*cked Am I? Forum

[Anonymous User]

litigation

[trbrny]

Don't worry yet, chill out. A 100 hour month in your first month is pretty respectable. Once you get your feet under you and people get to know you and your work, your hours will pick up. You will quickly learn to never ever complain again about only billing 50 hours in two week.

[Anonymous User]

I didn't bill 100 until my third month. Can't imagine you're even close to being screwed. Everyone has a ramp up period.

[Anonymous User]

I didn't bill 100 until my third month. Can't imagine you're even close to being screwed. Everyone has a ramp up period.

OP here. tyft. How hard was it to catch up to meet your annual requirement?

[orangecup]

I'm at 10 after this first week and not even worried. You're fine duder. It takes a while to get integrated.

[Anonymous User]

I started earlier than most and remember feeling very alarmed when things were slow at first, especially in the first week. Now that things are actually rolling I'm not so concerned at eventually hitting target. For most firms, I think you're on a stub year until the close of fiscal, so your hours don't really count right now. I wouldn't slack, especially because you're to need things to be rolling so you can start at a good pace when it does, but you're going to be fine.

[Anonymous User]

I'm starting this week. I was told that you are fine for your stub year regardless of hours (for TX). Just try to connect with partners/senior associates and do an error-free job on the work you do get. It seems like it's a lot more important to build relationships and do quality work than it is to bill a zillion hours. Current associates can feel free to contradict me.

[rpupkin]

Totally normal. If anything, I'd say that 50 hours is on the high side for the first two weeks.

Also, if your firm is typical, the billable year starts on either December 1 or January 1. No one cares how much you bill during your stub year. You basically have two or three months here where you don't have to worry about your billable totals at all.

I mean, don't turn down work or anything like that, but also don't stress about "low hours" at this point. Consider it a blessing: it's easier to get into the flow of your firm when you're not slammed on Day 1.

[Anonymous User]

At the risk of outing my firm, its fiscal year starts Oct 1, so the pressure is on very early.

[Anonymous User]

*TX Anon above. If you are worried at all, I would discuss with your mentor and/or the senior associate who you work the most with. I think they will give you an honest opinion regarding whether you need to reach outside of your "silo" to senior associates or partners in your practice group in the office or at other offices.



*Not quoting just in case you want to delete.

[Anonymous User]

I was thinking the same but then got stuck at the office until 11:30 PM trying to get a deal posted. So be careful what you ask for.

[Anonymous User]

Good point. My plan is to take as much work as I can get from my main supervisors at first and hopefully little beyond that.

[zot1]

50 billed after working how many?

[jrf12886]

Does your firm actually care what you bill in your stub year? I wouldn't start worrying until Jan 1. Just do all the work you're given, try your best to do good work, and the work will start flowing eventually. Trust me, soon you will be more worried about having too much work, rather than too little.

[Anonymous User]

I've billed 2.5 hours not counting pro bono, which would count toward billablea. I am not in NYC so it could be different, but Idgaf. I'll be busy for the rest of my life. I am fine with being a glorified summer until stub year is over.

[NonTradHealthLaw]

You're fine. I'd imagine you had at least a partial week of HR / IT training so there was no opportunity to bill.

Always remember, 2000 hours is the equivalent of 5x8hr days per week for 50 weeks. You'll learn quickly how many hours you need to work to reach that 8.

[Byakuya769]

You're fucked.

Because you WILL make those hours up.

[fats provolone]

zero hour stub year is the way to do it

[Anonymous User]

OP here. All great advice, except my stub year ends in two days, and it seems like there are way too many junior associates and not nearly enough work to go around.

[Byakuya769]

OP here. All great advice, except my stub year ends in two days, and it seems like there are way too many junior associates and not nearly enough work to go around.

You need to breathe into a paper bag.

There are many reasons why you wouldn't get ramped up as soon as you step into the firm three weeks before their fiscal year-end (maybe key among them, they're trying to help other juniors hit hours and don't have much to shave off for you).

Calm down, and just let people know that you're interested in receiving their work.

[Anonymous User]

I billed 2 hours this first week (mostly orientation events). At this rate I MIGHT break 100 hours for the year.

[rpupkin]

OP here. All great advice, except my stub year ends in two days, and it seems like there are way too many junior associates and not nearly enough work to go around.

First thing tomorrow, march into the managing partner's office. Before the managing partner can even utter the words "good morning," look him or her straight in the eye and announce: "Look, it's pretty clear that this firm overhired and there's not enough work to go around for all the junior associates. I expect to be staffed on two complex matters by Thursday, or I'm lateraling out."

Turn around and walk out immediately. Do NOT let managing partner respond. Trust me, by Thursday, October 1, you'll be swimming in billables while your less assertive first-year colleagues will be working 7-8 hours a day on a combination of doc review and pro bono. You've got this!!

[Anonymous User]

OP here. All great advice, except my stub year ends in two days, and it seems like there are way too many junior associates and not nearly enough work to go around.

First thing tomorrow, march into the managing partner's office. Before the managing partner can even utter the words "good morning," look him or her straight in the eye and announce: "Look, it's pretty clear that this firm overhired and there's not enough work to go around for all the junior associates. I expect to be staffed on two complex matters by Thursday, or I'm lateraling out."

Turn around and walk out immediately. Do NOT let managing partner respond. Trust me, by Thursday, October 1, you'll be swimming in billables while your less assertive first-year colleagues will be working 7-8 hours a day on a combination of doc review and pro bono. You've got this!!

LMAO.


50 hours in first two weeks is actually really good. I am pretty much in the same boat as you and I also worried before I got some work. My advice would be to politely ask several partners that you know if they have any tasks you can help on. In my experience they will appreciate you doing that even if they don't have anything going on at the moment. The trick here is to be proactive without being annoying.