Weekend Hours as a 1st year Associate Forum

[twenty 8]

After reading on this site that many first year associates are working long weekends (and me not so much), just curious on how many hours first years typically work…. just on weekends (home or office). I am basically reconciled that many workdays are 9A-8P and a few past 9P a couple times a week.

[iskim88]

Interested in this as well

[Coprolalia]

Revived instead of making new post. I'm interested to know about this. Edit: For brevity

[TheGreatFish]

Small to Mid size firm. I don't work weekends.

[twenty 8]

I figured there were more 1st year associates on TLS, noting all the complaints written about the horrible big firm hours. Granted, it’s always busy and some days are longer than others but there hasn’t been a morning when I’ve hit the snooze alarm….so far it’s as enlivening as advertised.

Edit: Since I misjudged the number of 1st year associates on TLS, let’s open this poll to first, second and third year associates. Probably won't matter since this is a Law School site and most grads have apparently moved on...just giving it a shot.

[kalvano]

I worked 3-7 hours on Sundays, usually, during busy times. Stuff has to get done, but I could do it from home.

During the slower times, no weekend work, but my standard workday was between 9.5 and 11 hours.

[twenty 8]

I worked 3-7 hours on Sundays, usually, during busy times. Stuff has to get done, but I could do it from home.

During the slower times, no weekend work, but my standard workday was between 9.5 and 11 hours.

I can relate to those weekday hours (3 out of 5 days). I had to go in today for a couple hours, which is a bit unusual. Got out in time to play tennis and enjoy this gorgeous mid-seventies sunshiny day. I heard it tends to become unusually hectic during the spring/summer. Hopefully, it doesn’t get crazzzzy.

[Theopliske8711]

What's the etiquette for taking a vacation?

[twenty 8]

Your compensation package should state the number of vacation days that are allotted. Since I am permitted to use a portion of my vacation after six months I requested July 3rd and the 7th (which works out to a 5 day break, due to the July 4th holiday). The protocol (here anyway) is to send a vacation request to HR — my guess is that they forward it on to the appropriate supervisors (mine was approved within a day).

[iamgeorgebush]

Your compensation package should state the number of vacation days that are allotted. Since I am permitted to use a portion of my vacation after six months I requested July 3rd and the 7th (which works out to a 5 day break, due to the July 4th holiday). The protocol (here anyway) is to send a vacation request to HR — my guess is that they forward it on to the appropriate supervisors (mine was approved within a day).

what about "etiquette" though? that sounds more like official policy. i'd be curious to hear about associates' experience with how unspoken expectations compare to official policy.

[TheBeard]

I'll chime in. I'm a first year associate working for a midsize firm (~500 attys). Weekend hours are the exception here- I've worked 2 Saturdays in 6 months. During the week, I'm expected to be in the office 10 hours per day, so I'm usually there from 9:00 to 7:00.

I get two weeks vacation. As long as I hit my hours at the end of the year, it's up to me when I take them.

[sublime]

..

[desertlaw]

Since beginning of 2014, I have only had 2 weekend days 100% off from work. Majority of Sat/Sun was billing at least 5, sometimes only 2-3, sometimes 8+.

[twenty 8]

Your compensation package should state the number of vacation days that are allotted. Since I am permitted to use a portion of my vacation after six months I requested July 3rd and the 7th (which works out to a 5 day break, due to the July 4th holiday). The protocol (here anyway) is to send a vacation request to HR — my guess is that they forward it on to the appropriate supervisors (mine was approved within a day).

what about "etiquette" though? that sounds more like official policy. i'd be curious to hear about associates' experience with how unspoken expectations compare to official policy.

It is pretty straightforward here, not much etiquette to it given that the request is directly submitted to HR. It isn’t like having to directly ask permission from someone in particular. I suppose if everyone asked for July 3rd off then some of protocol would prevail.

By unspoken, if you mean “timing.” That can be tricky since there is usually something going on you’re reluctant to put on hold. As an SA last year I know that a partner cut her vacation short (rare, but nevertheless). You just have to roll with it.

Hopefully nothing monumentally huge will show up on my desk July 2….if it does, I’d probably cancel since who wants to go on vacation fretting about this-or-that.

Edit: I find it highly improbable that any associate (much less 40%) is working 15+ hours on the weekend. So, what I should have asked is “on a typical weekend,” because I believe some people took weekend hours to mean over the course of a month. For the lack of clarity, My bad.

[FinanceStudent28]

Obviously it varies, but what kind of hours are we talking about in general?

12 hr M-F and roughly 10-12 spread through weekend? Ability to work from home on weekend?

Thanks!

[kalvano]

Obviously it varies, but what kind of hours are we talking about in general?

12 hr M-F and roughly 10-12 spread through weekend? Ability to work from home on weekend?

Thanks!

It entirely depends on the firm, practice area, time of year, the partner you work for, everything.

I doubt you'd work 12 hours on the weekend normally unless you work for a sweatshop. But 10-12 hours M-F is probably pretty accurate.

[twenty 8]

It entirely depends on the firm, practice area, time of year, the partner you work for, everything.

The firm I am with (50 attorneys at this office) has me working with several partners ... which I like. Does BL (or some firms in general) have each associate assigned to one partner?

Edit: As far as weekend hours... this weekend is a breeze... 2-3 hours tops (at home).

[First Offense]

From the sound of this - average work week is like ~60 hours, maybe up to 80 on odd weeks.

That doesn't sound bad at all.

[kalvano]

It entirely depends on the firm, practice area, time of year, the partner you work for, everything.

The firm I am with (50 attorneys at this office) has me working with several partners ... which I like. Does BL (or some firms in general) have each associate assigned to one partner?

Edit: As far as weekend hours... this weekend is a breeze... 2-3 hours tops (at home).

I think working for several partners is the norm, but I know of a few places that associates work more one-on-one with particular partners.

[twenty 8]

Over here certain associates are informally paired with partners. The only drawback is when two partners want something done quickly, as in, you need to put my project in front of the line, then it becomes tricky. During SA days we worked in a bullpen so when that happened whomever wasn’t busy would volunteer. Now I have to hunt people down in their offices (which never seems to work), so it’s easier to stay late and personally get it handled.

Most days it all works out fine but there are times when could use more associates. Hopefully we’ll recruit some smart and eager SAs this summer…. one can wish. What about at your firm?