Stub year hour check: what y’all doin? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’ve been at my firm for about 3 months. I’ve only billed about 40-50 hours, but I’ve done over 70 pro Bono. Anyone else look similar? There’s been weeks where it’s been dead which kinda makes me nervous. I ask for work but usually nothing comes of it.

[Anonymous User]

I’ve been at my firm for about 3 months. I’ve only billed about 40-50 hours, but I’ve done over 70 pro Bono. Anyone else look similar? There’s been weeks where it’s been dead which kinda makes me nervous. I ask for work but usually nothing comes of it.

This is all normal. Read every post on TLS about this. Talk to me in three months. For additional comfort, I'm a stub, on only one deal right now and its crickets. Boring AF, but i know it will pick up so enjoy.

[Anonymous User]

I billed about 300 hours (billable + pro bono, which counts for unlimited billable credit) since October. But the last two weeks I only billed about 10 hours a week because of the holidays. Looking to pick things up again this week.

[Anonymous User]

215 since November. Our stub hours don’t count at all at my firm, though. So I guess today hours start mattering.

[Anonymous User]

160 since Mid October. Last month I billed 90. I’m on over 5 deals and I haven’t had to bill in the last two weeks although my coworkers seem busy. Weird how the work ebbs and flows. Thought I’d be much busier over the holidays but I’m happy I wasn’t.

[Anonymous User]

40 hours since late November start, mostly billable with some pro bono thrown in.

[Anonymous User]

Roughly 175 billable hours (excludes pro bono) between 11/16 and EOY
Roughly 000 billable hours (excludes pro bono) between 01/01 and today

If this month picks up and is like the last two, I'm not going to worry about the slow/non-start to 2021.

Edit: But I am curious if firms give stubs massive hours when they don't count for anything on purpose, only to be more discerning about giving assignments once the year when hours matter begins.

[Anonymous User]

I’m on 6 deals and have been dead for 3 weeks. One is about finished. Should I be reaching out? Really don’t want to be on more than 5 deals at a time...

[Anonymous User]

Around 150 since mid-November start. Super busy holidays though. A lot of chill weeks in between.

[dyemond]

I’m on 6 deals and have been dead for 3 weeks. One is about finished. Should I be reaching out? Really don’t want to be on more than 5 deals at a time...

No. 5 deals are going to hit at once and you're going to drown in signature page packets, diligence and org doc amendments.

Sit tight, in a week or so ask the juniors/midlevels on your deals if there is anything they need help with, and if you don't pick up in first week of March or so check back in.

Much better for you to learn the process of a deal and be responsive than to bill high hours as a first year.

[Anonymous User]

I’m on 6 deals and have been dead for 3 weeks. One is about finished. Should I be reaching out? Really don’t want to be on more than 5 deals at a time...

No. 5 deals are going to hit at once and you're going to drown in signature page packets, diligence and org doc amendments.

Sit tight, in a week or so ask the juniors/midlevels on your deals if there is anything they need help with, and if you don't pick up in first week of March or so check back in.

Much better for you to learn the process of a deal and be responsive than to bill high hours as a first year.

Thank you for the response !

[Dcc617]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

[avenuem]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

Some stubs just don't know how to relax.

To date, I've billed all of 6 hours for 2021 (which is why I've been wasting time here). I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

[Anonymous User]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

Some stubs just don't know how to relax.

To date, I've billed all of 6 hours for 2021 (which is why I've been wasting time here). I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

You cannot be real.

Former 215-hour stub year anon. Getting absolutely buried right now. I think I’ve cried every day this week. I know biglaw makes you more marketable yada yada but I want out ASAP tbh

[nixy]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

Some stubs just don't know how to relax.

To date, I've billed all of 6 hours for 2021 (which is why I've been wasting time here). I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

Why are you like this?

[Flarmanarnar]

Been at my firm barely a month and billed 150, make mistakes left and right though...

[bigchiefhoho]

I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

I've been undecided on whether you're a troll or just an asshole, but I think this tips it over into troll. I assume you're enjoying yourself, given how much time you've spent at it.

As to the topic, I've billed 12 hours so far this year, and I have literally nothing to do right now. Everyone I've asked says to enjoy it while it lasts, so that's what I'm up to. Can't help thinking how much harder it would be to 'enjoy it' if we were actually stuck in an office despite having no work. Pour one out for all the stubbies who came before me.

[Anonymous User]

I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

I've been undecided on whether you're a troll or just an asshole, but I think this tips it over into troll. I assume you're enjoying yourself, given how much time you've spent at it.

As to the topic, I've billed 12 hours so far this year, and I have literally nothing to do right now. Everyone I've asked says to enjoy it while it lasts, so that's what I'm up to. Can't help thinking how much harder it would be to 'enjoy it' if we were actually stuck in an office despite having no work. Pour one out for all the stubbies who came before me.

quiet times as a stub/first year in the office really aren't that bad imo

I would just take naps under my desk and mess around on my phone all day (be careful not to use ur firm wifi...). I know people that have just watched shows on their iphones.

really do enjoy it!!! I had relatively quiet months but ended up at 1950 after my first year..so yea..

[Anonymous User]

Yeah...had an insanely busy December but now I’m really slow. Like maybe billed 2 hours yesterday...and looks like it’ll be that again today so far. Can’t help but to be nervous about it

[Anonymous User]

Stub here. I billed over 150 hours in December.

[emc91]

Yeah, WFH is fantastic because you can really take advantage of the slow periods.

[Anonymous User]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

Some stubs just don't know how to relax.

To date, I've billed all of 6 hours for 2021 (which is why I've been wasting time here). I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

You cannot be real.

Former 215-hour stub year anon. Getting absolutely buried right now. I think I’ve cried every day this week. I know biglaw makes you more marketable yada yada but I want out ASAP tbh

I feel this. I hit the ground running, my very first week I got staffed on a bankruptcy filing. I billed almost 400 hours in just the last two months of 2020, and 2021 doesn't seem to be slowing down....

[avenuem]

You would think all the stubs would look at all the other stub threads and see that all the stubs are asking the exact same questions, so obviously you're all fine.

Some stubs just don't know how to relax.

To date, I've billed all of 6 hours for 2021 (which is why I've been wasting time here). I worried for a moment, until I realized last year I did so good that the firm is rewarding me with a break. But struggling to understand what it means that people who did mediocre work are also getting a break.

You cannot be real.

Former 215-hour stub year anon. Getting absolutely buried right now. I think I’ve cried every day this week. I know biglaw makes you more marketable yada yada but I want out ASAP tbh

Partners said the same thing when reviewing my work. Sometimes things that are too good to believe actually are just good. You don't have to be jealous now that they're making you work hard. And way to try to one-up me by listing 215 hours.

Nixy, why do you have a crush on me?

bigchiefhoho, how can you call me a troll when you have a racist name that appropriates Native American culture? Unless you're native American. But you're not. You cannot be real.