New Associate Billable Questions Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anon because somewhat identifiable situation.

Clerked Fed D. Ct. and COA for 2.5 years combined. Started a month ago as a 3rd year lit associate at a Big Firm in a secondary/tertiary market inside the D. Ct. and COA I clerked on.

Despite relatively small city with low COL, the firm pays right around Cravath scale (230k for third year). The billable hour target is 2000 per year.

So far I am working on some good matters, and I have gotten good feedback on all the projects I've done. However, I only managed to bill around 130 hours my first month (annualizes to about 1500). I started alone basically treated as a lateral and don't really have anyone in the same boat to talk to, so it's difficult to gauge how I am doing relative to others. I hope to build a larger book of cases to be busier over time.

My questions really are (1) am I stressing too much too soon about billing; (2) how soon before the firm takes issue with my low hours; (3) are firms in smaller markets less strict about billable hour targets; (4) am I gonna get fired?

I acknowledge I am probably getting way ahead of myself. But not having anyone in the same boat is just rough. I know firms generally don't expect first years to hit billable targets. Does the same go for people coming off other work who are just starting at a firm for the first time? Can think of reasons they might be more lenient and reasons they might not be.

Any/all takes appreciated.

[forward]

IMO, relax. There is always a ramp up period when you start, particularly when coming in from a clerkship. Focus on doing good work and orienting to the firm. Regularly check in with your partners about your workload, to show interest in taking on more and so they have a good idea about your capacity, and you'll be fine.

[Anonymous User]

Anon because somewhat identifiable situation.

Clerked Fed D. Ct. and COA for 2.5 years combined. Started a month ago as a 3rd year lit associate at a Big Firm in a secondary/tertiary market inside the D. Ct. and COA I clerked on.

Despite relatively small city with low COL, the firm pays right around Cravath scale (230k for third year). The billable hour target is 2000 per year.

So far I am working on some good matters, and I have gotten good feedback on all the projects I've done. However, I only managed to bill around 130 hours my first month (annualizes to about 1500). I started alone basically treated as a lateral and don't really have anyone in the same boat to talk to, so it's difficult to gauge how I am doing relative to others. I hope to build a larger book of cases to be busier over time.

My questions really are (1) am I stressing too much too soon about billing; (2) how soon before the firm takes issue with my low hours; (3) are firms in smaller markets less strict about billable hour targets; (4) am I gonna get fired?

I acknowledge I am probably getting way ahead of myself. But not having anyone in the same boat is just rough. I know firms generally don't expect first years to hit billable targets. Does the same go for people coming off other work who are just starting at a firm for the first time? Can think of reasons they might be more lenient and reasons they might not be.

Any/all takes appreciated.

I don't doubt that it feels really uncomfortable. But at least in my experience (can't speak to your firm), the best strategy was to be happy with the initial slow ramp-up.

Also, I don't know if you're on a free-market system, or what group you're in. For my line of work, lit, projects typically last years. So the best policy is always to be patient in waiting for the right thing to come along. I literally quit the firm at one point (but came back and eventually made partner) because I was on a bad case that was ruining my life (run by a partner who is very widely hated and who everybody with any intelligence (i.e. not me) avoids).

[Anonymous User]

Anon because somewhat identifiable situation.

Clerked Fed D. Ct. and COA for 2.5 years combined. Started a month ago as a 3rd year lit associate at a Big Firm in a secondary/tertiary market inside the D. Ct. and COA I clerked on.

Despite relatively small city with low COL, the firm pays right around Cravath scale (230k for third year). The billable hour target is 2000 per year.

So far I am working on some good matters, and I have gotten good feedback on all the projects I've done. However, I only managed to bill around 130 hours my first month (annualizes to about 1500). I started alone basically treated as a lateral and don't really have anyone in the same boat to talk to, so it's difficult to gauge how I am doing relative to others. I hope to build a larger book of cases to be busier over time.

My questions really are (1) am I stressing too much too soon about billing; (2) how soon before the firm takes issue with my low hours; (3) are firms in smaller markets less strict about billable hour targets; (4) am I gonna get fired?

I acknowledge I am probably getting way ahead of myself. But not having anyone in the same boat is just rough. I know firms generally don't expect first years to hit billable targets. Does the same go for people coming off other work who are just starting at a firm for the first time? Can think of reasons they might be more lenient and reasons they might not be.

Any/all takes appreciated.

Partner at a big firm. There is no cause for concern. There is an inevitable ramp-up period, and people generally don't get fired for moderately low hours (and 1500 is moderately low) unless those hours are a symptom of some other problem or you are missing your hours year in and year out. Having two federal clerkships is also a help; associates with two federal clerkships don't grow on trees (let alone in secondary markets), and it's a significant value-add to your firm to have someone with those credentials. I would make sure you are being proactive about seeking out work, but other than that I would just relax and focus on doing high quality work.

[papercutter]

I'm also a partner at a biglaw firm, on the West Coast. I agree with everyone above that you shouldn't be worried at this point. A couple of things to consider over the next few months:

1. Keep in mind where your cases are in their lifecycle, and your role in those cases, and plan accordingly. If the case is in pleading motions now, your work is probably going to ramp up once you get into document discovery and then again when you get into depositions. OTOH, if you're in the middle of discovery, things may or may not slow down a little when you get into dispositive motions -- that varies quite a bit depending on the case schedule, the type of case, and whether you have deadlines after the dispositive motions such that the case is moving forward to trial while the motions are pending. If you're one of 10 associates on a case your time on the case may be fairly stable. If you're the only associate, or one of 2-3 associates, your time may vary a lot more since there are fewer hands to split up the load.

2. Keep in mind the number of cases you're working on. In my experience you lose some time just switching back and forth between cases -- i.e. the same amount of work divided across 5 cases yields fewer billable hours than if dedicated to just 1 case. Try to avoid committing to too many cases that are all going to be active at once, and think about the schedule in your existing cases when you take on new ones. If things are a little quiet because you have 3 cases in pleading motions but they're all going to ramp up into discovery in the next few months, think about that before you push for another case.

3. YMMV, but at my firm, it's totally fine to ask partners and senior associates how much of your time they think they will want going forward so you can plan around that. Note that their estimates may or may not reflect reality, and the needs of a case change.

4. I'm guessing your 130 will expand to more like 160-170 pretty naturally, or you'll get added to new cases without asking. But if you're still low in two months, I'd start asking for more work (and, at least at my firm, don't be shy about pursuing the kind of work you want, within reason).

[Anonymous User]

Fellow new associate double clerk in a secondary market here.

October was my first month and I had even fewer billable hours than you. But everyone at the firm is telling me not to worry and I’ve gotten awesome feedback.

So, solidarity.

[papermateflair]

To answer your questions:
(1) am I stressing too much too soon about billing; YES
(2) how soon before the firm takes issue with my low hours; if you're still at the same level in 6 months AND it's because of something you can control (like, you just don't work, or your work is bad), maybe then? If there are larger economic issues in your group, maybe they'll care but you can't control that.
(3) are firms in smaller markets less strict about billable hour targets; some are, some aren't, if you are a golden child with two clerkships they will probably want to keep you around even if you aren't crushing it - but that's looking at a WHOLE YEAR of hours. Not one month. No one cares about one month unless you just didn't do anything and refused all work.
(4) am I gonna get fired? Not for billing 130 hours in your first month, unless you made up all those hours or committed a crime or something.

You billed 130 hours in your first month, which I assume also included new hire training? That is basically all anyone can expect from a new lateral! It can take 6 months to a year to be fully integrated as a lateral, and if you have 130 hours in your first month that's a sign that your group clearly has a ton of work for you to do and you're going to be fine. Is your firm on a fiscal year or a calendar year for associate hours tracking? If you are on a calendar year I truly would not sweat this at all (because no one is ever going to look at your hours for these three months). If you're on a fiscal year that for some reason starts in October or November, just make sure that you aren't digging yourself into too deep of a hole if your firm is cheap when it comes to bonuses and requires you hit a certain billable target, and go pick up some pro bono if you're really worried. I would not be worried in your scenario, you will be fine.