How many billable hours is too few for Bigalow? Forum

[viene_la_chancla]

I am a 5th year associate in BigLaw (2000 billable hours requirement) and for the first time since I've been in practice, I am going to fall below my billable hour target. Potentially by a lot.

Some of that is Covid, some of that is due to the fact that we wrapped up in a mega-merger and the partners needed the summer to bring in more business. I'm not the exception: in my practice group, only one of the associates is going to hit the billable target.

So my question is: how many hours is too little?

[Lestersandy]

You’ve hit hours for four years? And now a global pandemic hit?

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about it too much unless you’re at <1500. I know some associates billing much less than that who went without repercussions for a couple years.

[eastcoast_iub]

This is an interesting question. How many billables does Bam Bam Bigalow expect from BigLaw associates. Does anyone have his phone number?

[viene_la_chancla]

You’ve hit hours for four years? And now a global pandemic hit?

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about it too much unless you’re at <1500. I know some associates billing much less than that who went without repercussions for a couple years.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this. There's such an ego culture around hours that I feel bad even admitting I'm falling short...

[attorney589753]

Think about it from the partners' perspective. They can't/won't lay off everyone, and why would it be you? Are you well-liked, do good work, running projects, and at/above expectations during normal years? Of course they could do something random/unexpected, but good/trusted 5th years aren't just super easy to come by. I think you're being paranoid and you'll be fine.

[Anonymous User]

I billed 1350 as a mid-level one year. I’m still here!

[Anonymous User]

There's no magic number. If your firm is otherwise doing well financially and partners with influence will advocate to keep you, you can afford a really bad year or two (1200-1500 hours). If your firm isn't doing as well, slow groups will probably be forced to make cuts. As you get more senior and the firm has to decide whether you're on track for partner/counsel, it's usually more difficult to survive a bad year.

[Anonymous User]

If it's everyone in your practice group except one person, you're fine. It would be foolish for the firm to can all of you for something that impacted everyone.

Does your firm give you any credit for pro bono/knowledge management (like writing articles)? If so, you could take something on to fill the time for the rest of this year.

[hdr]

If it's everyone in your practice group except one person, you're fine. It would be foolish for the firm to can all of you for something that impacted everyone.

If everyone in the group is slow the group may be told to cut one or two lawyers.

[LawrenceGazebo]

I am a 5th year associate in BigLaw (2000 billable hours requirement) and for the first time since I've been in practice, I am going to fall below my billable hour target. Potentially by a lot.

Some of that is Covid, some of that is due to the fact that we wrapped up in a mega-merger and the partners needed the summer to bring in more business. I'm not the exception: in my practice group, only one of the associates is going to hit the billable target.

So my question is: how many hours is too little?

What practice group is this? M&A?

[Anonymous User]

It depends on the group. My good friend regularly bills 1300-1400 at a firm and doesn’t get any crap for it. I think the group is pretty stable.

Me on the other hand, I got axed mid-year when I was on track for 1200 hours because the firm was slow.

[Anonymous User]

My firm allegedly had an unspoken rule that you could go two years of not hitting your hours without ramifications. Obviously if you billed a total of 100 hours one year, the rule didn't apply. But if you were a few hundred short, you were generally fine unless you did horrible work or certain partners didn't like you.

[Anonymous User]

I went four years in a row with 1400-1500, and got my bonus every year (at a no minimum hours firm to be fair). I had to switch firms/markets for personal reasons, but there was no indication in the third and fourth year that I’d be let go. The group was just slow. Though I admit I was definitely nervous about it during the second year. But by the end, I stopped worrying about the hours and just continued to produce the best work product I could. I probably would’ve been let go at some point but life was pretty good and I paid off my loans “coasting.” Sadly I’m working a lot more at my new firm though.