How many hours do you bill? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I’m considering lateraling to another biglaw firm in part because my workload is overwhelming. But I’m worried that if I go somewhere else, the hours expectations will be the same or worse.

Could you all give me a sense of how much you work and where you work?

I’ll start:

Last year I billed just over 2400 hours and I work at Quinn Emanuel. This year will probably be the same or higher.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think many people will be willing to out their firms, but hey, what the heck.

Lit @ GDC, I billed a little over 1950 (our hours target) last year, 2150 the year before, and will probably bill a little over 1950 again this year. But I think I'm an outlier/particularly shameless in saying no to extra work when I'm on track to meet my hours.

[Anonymous User]

Last year, I started at one firm (was on pace for 1500 hours) and lateraled to another firm with the promise of a full bonus (billed on pace for 1900 hours). All in, I billed probably 1650 hours.

This year, I’m currently on pace for 1750 or so hours.

I try to bill 6-8 hours a day unless it’s a signing/closing.

[Anonymous User]

Just over 2400 hours last year. On a 2900 hour pace this year, but that won't hold once a few crazy deals close and I take vacation. With that said, I am going up for partner this year, so I'm planning on matching or exceeding last year's number.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden NY. 7th year corp. Have never billed under 1800, have never billed over 1850. If I’m on track for hours I just say no to new matters. I frequently have billed under 40 hours in December when I just refuse to work on absolutely anything new. I’m lucky that I get away with it and I’m sure my rep is horrible as a result but idgaf.

[Anonymous User]

1400 as a first year. On track for 1800 as a second year.

[Anonymous User]

1400--2250--2400--2150--2200

2k hour firm for bonus corporate finance. Through 6 months I am usually on target for 2.4k+ but try to and successfully aggressively take vacation (5 weeks a year but sadly I still work 5-10 hours a week on vacation).

[Anonymous User]

First year in NY office of one of Fenwick/Cooley/WSGR/Gunderson, on track for about 1,100 so far but workload ramping up for sure. Honestly just trying to get to 30-35 hours a week at this point since there's basically no way I'd get my bonus unless I worked multiple 200-250 hour months and I'd rather not

[Anonymous User]

First year in NY office of one of Fenwick/Cooley/WSGR/Gunderson, on track for about 1,100 so far but workload ramping up for sure. Honestly just trying to get to 30-35 hours a week at this point since there's basically no way I'd get my bonus unless I worked multiple 200-250 hour months and I'd rather not

Also at one of these firms. I’ve given up on getting a bonus too, and the partners seem fine with me billing 30-35 hours a week.

[Anonymous User]

1650-1650-2100 and on track for around 2200 this year.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden NY. 7th year corp. Have never billed under 1800, have never billed over 1850. If I’m on track for hours I just say no to new matters. I frequently have billed under 40 hours in December when I just refuse to work on absolutely anything new. I’m lucky that I get away with it and I’m sure my rep is horrible as a result but idgaf.

So it is possible?! This is my approach at my current firm but we’re not market paying so I was considering a lateral move and doing that same thing but I was told by numerous people that it wouldn’t be possible. That the firms have assignment coordinators or others who will staff you unwillingly etc.

Can I ask if you’ve spent your whole career at Skadden? Wondering if you earned the goodwill to pull this off or if anyone with balls to say no/no care about rep can do it too.

[Anonymous User]

D.C. regulatory shop, first year, on track for 1900 to 2000 this year. Midlevels and senior associates easily surpass that.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden NY. 7th year corp. Have never billed under 1800, have never billed over 1850. If I’m on track for hours I just say no to new matters. I frequently have billed under 40 hours in December when I just refuse to work on absolutely anything new. I’m lucky that I get away with it and I’m sure my rep is horrible as a result but idgaf.

Ur my spirit animal

[Anonymous User]

It’s refreshing to see posts from people other than the vocal outliers who are “on pace for 3,200!!”

I am at a boutique-y mid-law firm in the south. Last year I billed about 1,850. Year before 1,900. This year on pace for 2,100 but there’s no way I end up that high. All of those numbers are very high for my firm, whose average for associates tends to be somewhere between 1,625 and 1,725. Bonus not based on billable hours at my place. So once a few hot matters I am on calm down I’m going to be actively trying to drop the pace to something closer to 1,800.

[Anonymous User]

I was at at a v15 for a few years. Each year billed right between 2000 (hours req) and 2050. My last year there my hours were VERY low (think sub 1600) and they complained (and didn't give bonus) even though I asked for work regularly and got decent reviews.

So I lateraled to a no hours req v10 and am aiming for 2100 hours here but realistically probably going to hit 1800-1900 because it's been very slow Jan/Feb (and I'm senior enough to turn down the shit I don't want to do)

[Anonymous User]

First year in NY office of one of Fenwick/Cooley/WSGR/Gunderson, on track for about 1,100 so far but workload ramping up for sure. Honestly just trying to get to 30-35 hours a week at this point since there's basically no way I'd get my bonus unless I worked multiple 200-250 hour months and I'd rather not

Also at one of these firms. I’ve given up on getting a bonus too, and the partners seem fine with me billing 30-35 hours a week.

(OP) Yeah after only billing 100 in January, I had a full week in February where I billed less than an hour/day I realized there was just no way

[Anonymous User]

Just want to chime in to say I'm really impressed that this hasn't become a measuring contest for high billers. I won't post my (high) hours for that reason, but it's nice to see that avoiding soul crushing hours is not only possible, but also common.

[Anonymous User]

First year in NY office of one of Fenwick/Cooley/WSGR/Gunderson, on track for about 1,100 so far but workload ramping up for sure. Honestly just trying to get to 30-35 hours a week at this point since there's basically no way I'd get my bonus unless I worked multiple 200-250 hour months and I'd rather not

Also at one of these firms. I’ve given up on getting a bonus too, and the partners seem fine with me billing 30-35 hours a week.

Also at one of these but in the CA HQ... billed 2400 last year (as a first year) and feeling the same as OP. So far my hours have been slightly less than last year but probably still on track for north of 2000.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden NY. 7th year corp. Have never billed under 1800, have never billed over 1850. If I’m on track for hours I just say no to new matters. I frequently have billed under 40 hours in December when I just refuse to work on absolutely anything new. I’m lucky that I get away with it and I’m sure my rep is horrible as a result but idgaf.

So it is possible?! This is my approach at my current firm but we’re not market paying so I was considering a lateral move and doing that same thing but I was told by numerous people that it wouldn’t be possible. That the firms have assignment coordinators or others who will staff you unwillingly etc.

Can I ask if you’ve spent your whole career at Skadden? Wondering if you earned the goodwill to pull this off or if anyone with balls to say no/no care about rep can do it too.

Can't imagine a lateral would be able to luck into my position -- I started here, built up some goodwill by my third year, then basically went to a partner I like and was like "I'd like to just work with you, if possible" and they have protected me ever since. The staffing coordinator still reaches out but I only take the matters if I have capacity. The one partner probably accounts for like, 1500-1600 of my hours in a given year. For a year or two the staffing coordinator would call me on the fact I had availability when I turned them down, but then the partner in question would call the staffing coordinator and the requests would go away. I am doubtful to ever make counsel, much less make partner -- but also stuck in the golden handcfufs, because back then I Was like "eh whatever I'll be here for like another year, might as well try to make it bearable" and now I'm getting paid stupid amounts of $$$ for a very liveable job so I might just end up being a permanent associate at this rate.

[Anonymous User]

First year in a v10 specialist group. Bill 10-25 hours a week and have been at this pace since I started. I ask for more work and get nonbillable stuff so will probably stop doing that. Not a free market firm and partners have told me not to worry about my hours.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden NY. 7th year corp. Have never billed under 1800, have never billed over 1850. If I’m on track for hours I just say no to new matters. I frequently have billed under 40 hours in December when I just refuse to work on absolutely anything new. I’m lucky that I get away with it and I’m sure my rep is horrible as a result but idgaf.

So it is possible?! This is my approach at my current firm but we’re not market paying so I was considering a lateral move and doing that same thing but I was told by numerous people that it wouldn’t be possible. That the firms have assignment coordinators or others who will staff you unwillingly etc.

Can I ask if you’ve spent your whole career at Skadden? Wondering if you earned the goodwill to pull this off or if anyone with balls to say no/no care about rep can do it too.

Can't imagine a lateral would be able to luck into my position -- I started here, built up some goodwill by my third year, then basically went to a partner I like and was like "I'd like to just work with you, if possible" and they have protected me ever since. The staffing coordinator still reaches out but I only take the matters if I have capacity. The one partner probably accounts for like, 1500-1600 of my hours in a given year. For a year or two the staffing coordinator would call me on the fact I had availability when I turned them down, but then the partner in question would call the staffing coordinator and the requests would go away. I am doubtful to ever make counsel, much less make partner -- but also stuck in the golden handcfufs, because back then I Was like "eh whatever I'll be here for like another year, might as well try to make it bearable" and now I'm getting paid stupid amounts of $$$ for a very liveable job so I might just end up being a permanent associate at this rate.

Really appreciate the honest and insightful response. Super helpful as I think about this all.

[Anonymous User]

And now back to reality … 2600 as a first year, on track for ~2300 as a second year so far. NYC v10 regulatory.

[Anonymous User]

Just want to chime in to say I'm really impressed that this hasn't become a measuring contest for high billers. I won't post my (high) hours for that reason, but it's nice to see that avoiding soul crushing hours is not only possible, but also common.

Yeah I don't know that these low numbers are "common", may be more of a self-selection effect on here. At my firm I cannot imagine more than 1 or 2 folks sub-1950 and that only in unusual circumstances...

[Anonymous User]

Just want to chime in to say I'm really impressed that this hasn't become a measuring contest for high billers. I won't post my (high) hours for that reason, but it's nice to see that avoiding soul crushing hours is not only possible, but also common.

Yeah I don't know that these low numbers are "common", may be more of a self-selection effect on here. At my firm I cannot imagine more than 1 or 2 folks sub-1950 and that only in unusual circumstances...

I think people don’t really understand that the average billables at many places are a lot lower than they think.

I’ve discussed this with other associates before. RPL at firms is way too low that a majority of attorneys at a firm are billing way over 2000 hours. Some of the highest RPLs are in the $1.5-1.7mm range. Let’s say the average blended rate for partners/associates is $1500 at those firms. Firms aren’t giving 50% discounts to clients. You get where I’m going with this.

[Anonymous User]

Fwiw: second year at a v10 in lit. As a first year I billed around 1950. Was told my hours billed were slightly above average for my class year. This year on track to bill ~2000 and was told that my hours are solidly at median. Yes, there are people out there billing insane hours, but based on what I’ve been told, there are just as many people at or below 2000 every year.