High hours pissing contest 2022 Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm honestly shocked by these poll numbers. Maybe it is a selfselecting group, but I always thought it was pain and more pain with 2300 hours on average. It's the prime reason I haven't lateralled from my current firm 1,800 hours, as I figured I hit the absolute jackpot with my hours (want to lateral as I really don't like my practice area and dislike the city).

You're not wrong.

Definitely self-selecting to the extent that the folks billing 2800 aren't likely to be posting here as much as folks annualizing 1800. But it may also be some foresight bias, if that's a thing? Like, I'm annualizing around 2300-2400 right now, but I haven't taken a vacation yet this year, been working harder than usual on weekends and holidays, etc. I don't expect that to continue all year and I do intend to take a couple of vacations, in addition to relaxing a bit once I hit my hours target. So will I end up at 2300? Yeah, maybe, if things keep going as hard as they've been, but I don't think they will. Let's chat in 8 months!

I think the self selection bias is actually the other way. Most people who write on here all the time seem to be those who are working all the time and jump on here while waiting for comments or something. People billing under 2000 can have actual lives outside of work and are just responding to the poll because the title of this post was cringe.

[Anonymous User]

How does a first-year bill? There's been several times I'm sitting at my computer late at night just watching more senior members on the team working. The result is I bill .6 hours to run a few redlines when I could have been spending 4 full hours drinking with my friends. Should I be billing more? I understand the demands of the job but it's frustrating when I'm chained to my desk and don't have anything to show for it.

I'm hardly on track to bill 1200 hours this year because of this.

[Anonymous User]

I checked out of curiosity yesterday and I’ve billed nearly 1500 over the last six months. No wonder I’m so tired and miserable. That said, I’ve had stretches like this before (couple biglaw trials) and have never billed more than 2300 in a year. Still, this is not living. Secondary biglaw FWIW

[Anonymous User]

How does a first-year bill? There's been several times I'm sitting at my computer late at night just watching more senior members on the team working. The result is I bill .6 hours to run a few redlines when I could have been spending 4 full hours drinking with my friends. Should I be billing more? I understand the demands of the job but it's frustrating when I'm chained to my desk and don't have anything to show for it.

I'm hardly on track to bill 1200 hours this year because of this.

This is a pretty controversial billing grey area and I think the answer kind of depends. It's pretty ridiculous if your seniors are actually *requiring* you to be online on Friday nights to run a few blacklines...I'd probably just start forwarding those to word processing from my phone or something; running blacklines is not legal work.

[omar1]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

[MarcusH]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I've billed over 2500 the past couple of years (this year looks worse still), but I personally consider 2200+ high and 2300+ to be unsustainable.

1900-2000+ is the target at most firms, but of course some bill less and firms like to squeeze more.

[almostperfectt]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I would say anything below 1900 is low/chill. 1900-2300 is mid/decent and 2300+ is high. Hmm and 2300 to 2600, I consider "very high" I guess. And honestly 2600+ is stupid, unsustainable imo. Some people do it consistently, but they either burn out or make partner and basically marry their job

[Sackboy]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I would say anything below 1900 is low/chill. 1900-2300 is mid/decent and 2300+ is high. Hmm and 2300 to 2600, I consider "very high" I guess. And honestly 2600+ is stupid, unsustainable imo. Some people do it consistently, but they either burn out or make partner and basically marry their job

I'd narrow it to 1900-2100 is mid (and drop the "decent"), 2100+ is working more than you reasonably should, 2300+ is you should actively be looking to lateral, 2300-2600 is you should be looking for the rooftop of the nearest parking garage, and 2600+ is you should have already hit the pavement and moved on to the afterlife.

[Anonymous User]

What if the parking garage is underground

[almostperfectt]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I would say anything below 1900 is low/chill. 1900-2300 is mid/decent and 2300+ is high. Hmm and 2300 to 2600, I consider "very high" I guess. And honestly 2600+ is stupid, unsustainable imo. Some people do it consistently, but they either burn out or make partner and basically marry their job

I'd narrow it to 1900-2100 is mid (and drop the "decent"), 2100+ is working more than you reasonably should, 2300+ is you should actively be looking to lateral, 2300-2600 is you should be looking for the rooftop of the nearest parking garage, and 2600+ is you should have already hit the pavement and moved on to the afterlife.

I don't disagree really and we're just splitting hairs at this point I think...

I disagree that 2100 to 2300 is more than you reasonably should. For someone who likes their job and is good at it, that seems like a reasonably busy pace. 2200 hours is 200 hours a month (or about 9 billable hours per workday if you dont work weekends) with four weeks vacation. High but not crazy. There are some people who like this job and enjoy being busy but still having a life. 2200 hours can get you there and also retain partner prospects.

[Anonymous User]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I would say anything below 1900 is low/chill. 1900-2300 is mid/decent and 2300+ is high. Hmm and 2300 to 2600, I consider "very high" I guess. And honestly 2600+ is stupid, unsustainable imo. Some people do it consistently, but they either burn out or make partner and basically marry their job

I'd narrow it to 1900-2100 is mid (and drop the "decent"), 2100+ is working more than you reasonably should, 2300+ is you should actively be looking to lateral, 2300-2600 is you should be looking for the rooftop of the nearest parking garage, and 2600+ is you should have already hit the pavement and moved on to the afterlife.

I don't disagree really and we're just splitting hairs at this point I think...

I disagree that 2100 to 2300 is more than you reasonably should. For someone who likes their job and is good at it, that seems like a reasonably busy pace. 2200 hours is 200 hours a month (or about 9 billable hours per workday if you dont work weekends) with four weeks vacation. High but not crazy. There are some people who like this job and enjoy being busy but still having a life. 2200 hours can get you there and also retain partner prospects.

As a 5th year who has never been below 2500 and had a recent 3k+ year, 2200 sounds like a lifestyle firm to me. Then again, maybe I've got Stockholm syndrome.

[Anonymous User]

What's considered a high number of hours in a year? Over 1900? Over 2000? Is there consensus on this? Just curious.

I would say anything below 1900 is low/chill. 1900-2300 is mid/decent and 2300+ is high. Hmm and 2300 to 2600, I consider "very high" I guess. And honestly 2600+ is stupid, unsustainable imo. Some people do it consistently, but they either burn out or make partner and basically marry their job

I'd narrow it to 1900-2100 is mid (and drop the "decent"), 2100+ is working more than you reasonably should, 2300+ is you should actively be looking to lateral, 2300-2600 is you should be looking for the rooftop of the nearest parking garage, and 2600+ is you should have already hit the pavement and moved on to the afterlife.

I don't disagree really and we're just splitting hairs at this point I think...

I disagree that 2100 to 2300 is more than you reasonably should. For someone who likes their job and is good at it, that seems like a reasonably busy pace. 2200 hours is 200 hours a month (or about 9 billable hours per workday if you dont work weekends) with four weeks vacation. High but not crazy. There are some people who like this job and enjoy being busy but still having a life. 2200 hours can get you there and also retain partner prospects.

Exactly 9 hours each day would be fine. But in reality that's not how it works.

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

[2013]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

You should leave.

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

Name and shame

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

why stay? if you've cut it to midlevel at a V10 in corporate you've got the resume line. you can make the same compensation after lateraling for hundreds of hours less billed (let alone dedicated to work).

life is short, you don't owe them that.

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

why stay? if you've cut it to midlevel at a V10 in corporate you've got the resume line. you can make the same compensation after lateraling for hundreds of hours less billed (let alone dedicated to work).

life is short, you don't owe them that.

If you have not lateraled yet in your Biglaw career, why not get a 150-200k sign on bonus and then take 3-4 weeks off before starting at your new firm?

I can only imagine the number of 15+ hour days in your calendar to get up to 350. Take care of yourself.

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

why stay? if you've cut it to midlevel at a V10 in corporate you've got the resume line. you can make the same compensation after lateraling for hundreds of hours less billed (let alone dedicated to work).

life is short, you don't owe them that.

If you have not lateraled yet in your Biglaw career, why not get a 150-200k sign on bonus and then take 3-4 weeks off before starting at your new firm?

I can only imagine the number of 15+ hour days in your calendar to get up to 350. Take care of yourself.

Original anon, stay for more pie down the road.

[Anonymous User]

Looking down the barrel of another 3400 year. Straight 350s to start the year off. Lovely. Mid level at a v10 here. Was laughed at when I asked to be staffed to different matters. Fuck these people.

WTF. This is absolutely insane, inhumane, and 100% not worth it. Lateral immediately--plenty of other biglaw firms don't have close to a similar [informal] requirement, including in NYC (assuming you're there). In the meantime, take care of yourself.