Hourly Associate Forum

[Anonymous User]

I left biglaw a couple years ago due to burnout and semi-swore never to go back. The lifestyle of being a corporate associate just ground me down. The firm has reached back out to me and offered for me to come back on an hourly basis because the team is too stretched and they just need more bodies. I was honest with them about having a family now and that I'm just not willing to do all nighters and grind like I did before, and supposedly they understand and it won't be full time. Fingers crossed.

Has anyone negotiated pay terms in a situation like this? When I was salaried on lockstep there was nothing to haggle over. I'm curious if anyone has asked for things like a signing bonus and/or some sort of annual bonus potentially? Has anyone negotiated a higher hourly rate from what was initially offered?

I'll never be partner, of course, but I value my time and independence. I just don't want to leave money on the table if I can avoid it.

[CanadianWolf]

Are you employed ? If yes, how are you paid and at what hourly rate do you bill ?

How many years of biglaw experience do you have & how many years of experience as a lawyer ?

[Anonymous User]

I left biglaw a couple years ago due to burnout and semi-swore never to go back. The lifestyle of being a corporate associate just ground me down. The firm has reached back out to me and offered for me to come back on an hourly basis because the team is too stretched and they just need more bodies. I was honest with them about having a family now and that I'm just not willing to do all nighters and grind like I did before, and supposedly they understand and it won't be full time. Fingers crossed.

Has anyone negotiated pay terms in a situation like this? When I was salaried on lockstep there was nothing to haggle over. I'm curious if anyone has asked for things like a signing bonus and/or some sort of annual bonus potentially? Has anyone negotiated a higher hourly rate from what was initially offered?

I'll never be partner, of course, but I value my time and independence. I just don't want to leave money on the table if I can avoid it.

Thought I'd update on this just in case someone in the future finds it useful when considering a similar arrangement. The hourly associate role pays approx. $200 an hour, with a estimated load of 25 hours a week, but in reality it's a function of the number of work requests that come in and if I say I'm available to assist. Role does qualify for benefits. No signing bonus, no negotiation on the hourly rate in year 1. I'm not sure this kind of role makes sense for most people, because you're kind of treading water professionally, but so far it's been a good fit with young kids.

[Anonymous User]

Hey - I'm actually looking at doing this right now. Can I ask you how you're keeping to 25 hours? That seems to me the hardest part of a part time law firm role. The $200 an hour datapoint is a good one, so thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Hey - I'm actually looking at doing this right now. Can I ask you how you're keeping to 25 hours? That seems to me the hardest part of a part time law firm role. The $200 an hour datapoint is a good one, so thanks.

Keeping to 25 hours hasn't been difficult. I don't volunteer for tasks/matters unless I'm not busy, and I haven't felt pressured to do otherwise. The number of hours worked on a given day has varied from .5 to 8+, but it's smoothed out on a weekly basis. One of the dynamics that it's taken me a while to internalize is that, if I'm not billing, I'm not getting paid, so I try not to sweat it if I'm idle like I did as a standard associate.

My lifestyle situation involves a working partner and a young child I can spend time with in the mornings and evenings, so I can pretty well accommodate capacity demands (i.e. I'm not an exclusively stay at home parent), and some paycheck variation isn't a crisis, but the role might not be as good a fit if you don't have those demands and flexibilities.

[thewestlitigator]

Hey - I'm actually looking at doing this right now. Can I ask you how you're keeping to 25 hours? That seems to me the hardest part of a part time law firm role. The $200 an hour datapoint is a good one, so thanks.

Keeping to 25 hours hasn't been difficult. I don't volunteer for tasks/matters unless I'm not busy, and I haven't felt pressured to do otherwise. The number of hours worked on a given day has varied from .5 to 8+, but it's smoothed out on a weekly basis. One of the dynamics that it's taken me a while to internalize is that, if I'm not billing, I'm not getting paid, so I try not to sweat it if I'm idle like I did as a standard associate.

My lifestyle situation involves a working partner and a young child I can spend time with in the mornings and evenings, so I can pretty well accommodate capacity demands (i.e. I'm not an exclusively stay at home parent), and some paycheck variation isn't a crisis, but the role might not be as good a fit if you don't have those demands and flexibilities.

Are the partners mindful of the fact that you are keeping to 25 hours a week? For example, say you already hit 25, but a partner has an urgent task that he/she needs you to do, do you pass on it, or just do the task? Any sort of pushbacks by partners? Thanks.