Firms that actually fire associates for missing hours? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Someone in another thread (will find link to post), said that they knew of two associates at Polsinelli who were fired for missing the hours target and another person who said that’s the rule there.

Anyone know of other firms that actually fire associates when they don’t hit the minimum billable requirement?

[Anonymous User]

I'm interested to know this as well. I assume this is the post you're referring to:

The suggestion that Polsinelli fires associates that don’t meet their hours is materially false.

Hard disagree. I personally know at least 2 associates at Polsinelli that were fired for low hours. They absolutely fire associates for low hours (which are directly a result of some of their groups not having enough work).

Here is the link: viewtopic.php?p=10486027#p10486027

[Mullens]

Someone in another thread (will find link to post), said that they knew of two associates at Polsinelli who were fired for missing the hours target and another person who said that’s the rule there.

Anyone know of other firms that actually fire associates when they don’t hit the minimum billable requirement?

All of them? All firms will fire some associates who underperform or have super low hours (which could be symptom of poor performance). More likely to happen due to the firm not being busy enough at lower tier firms and it certainly sucks when this happens not at the fault of the associates, but that’s a risk of going to a lower tier firm.

I’m not aware of any firms with a black line rule of firing all associates who miss hours; that would be a terrible policy that could pick up talented associates who missed the cutoff for reasons out of their control (and whom the firm would want to maintain).

[hdr]

I wouldn't put any weight on anonymous comments lacking in specifics. "Low hours" can mean 1750 or it can mean 1250. I don't know any associate who has been fired for 1750 but an associate who bills 1250 is in danger at most firms.

And there is not a single firm in the V100 that would fire an associate merely for "missing" their minimum. An associate who hits 90% of the target is still making a huge amount of money for the firm (unless an extraordinary number of hours are being written off).