Realization rate, should I be worried? Forum

[Anonymous User]

New associate here, started 6 months ago but entered as a second year because of clerkship. I had to review a billing record, and noticed that everyone else, including the partner, had been discounted by about 14-20%, whereas I was discounted by 25%. Everyone else on the team is at least 2 years more senior than I am. I've been googling and it says realization rate at 75% is too low. Should I be worried?

[Lacepiece23]

No, you’re lowest on the totem pole so you’re and easy target for time to be cut. It’s not a big deal

[objctnyrhnr]

That kind of discrepancy really is not a big deal. I think if you settle into like 70% or 60% as a lower midlevel then you have a problem. 75-85% strikes me as in the normal range.

[Anonymous User]

That seems slightly low, but it’ll probably change rather quickly. The first few months of my first year, my realization rate was around 80-85% and now (I’m a second year), it’s around 95-98%

When you’re new, it takes a little longer to get some clients to digest the fact that they have a new biller.

[Anonymous User]

The partner probably spent a couple seconds marking down your time. There is no rhyme or reason to it -- you are just the easy target.

If you started noticing your time was marked a lot more than someone of your same year, then maybe some cause for concern. But I really wouldn't spend time stressing over this.