How much does a lawyer work? Forum

[Solerpower]

I've read a lot of articles talking about the billable hour and how much you probably will work in order to bill X amount of hours.

However, i have never had anyone really talk about how much a Big Law lawyer is in the office for.

I'm curious if the average big law lawyer works 50-60hrs a week or if they truly work 80-90 hours (hell on earth)

If someone can talk about the hours for various lawyer positions (Associate and partner in big law, Clerks, Public Interest law, private firms)


Thanks alot everyone!!

[cameronfraser88]

in france 15 hours a week

[lawlover829]

It depends on what you do and the firm.
The place where I worked (V25 law firm) out it was 9-7 M-F

That was litigation though.

[crazycanuck]

You'll have 35 hour weeks where you can't find anything to do, and you'll have 90 hour weeks where it all comes in a rush.

How about that for vagueness?

[gobucks101]

http://www.averyindex.com/shortest_hour_law_firms.php

Keep in mind that first year associates work more than this, and the number may be dragged by non-partner tracked associates. Also, just because it is average hours a week does not mean it is the regular hours a week. I have heard from a previous discussion of having a 30-40 hour work week followed by a 90 hour work week when big projects come up.

[Solerpower]

It depends on what you do and the firm.
The place where I worked (V25 law firm) out it was 9-7 M-F

That was litigation though.

So in the litigation department of a V25 firm, you worked 50 hours a week? Wow not bad..

Do most firms allow you to get in at 6am and leave at 4 or 5pm?

[fightin illini 25]

It depends on what you do and the firm.
The place where I worked (V25 law firm) out it was 9-7 M-F

That was litigation though.

So in the litigation department of a V25 firm, you worked 50 hours a week? Wow not bad..

Do most firms allow you to get in at 6am and leave at 4 or 5pm?

As an associate this probably will not work, if you come in at 6am but then a big project comes up that needs to be done by the next morning for a partner you will be there till it is finished...I doubt any associates at big law firms have set times that they leave every day.

[Solerpower]

http://www.averyindex.com/shortest_hour_law_firms.php

Keep in mind that first year associates work more than this, and the number may be dragged by non-partner tracked associates. Also, just because it is average hours a week does not mean it is the regular hours a week. I have heard from a previous discussion of having a 30-40 hour work week followed by a 90 hour work week when big projects come up.

Hey thanks a lot for that Link it is EXACTLY what i was looking for...

I really appreciate it!!!

[Solerpower]

It depends on what you do and the firm.
The place where I worked (V25 law firm) out it was 9-7 M-F

That was litigation though.

So in the litigation department of a V25 firm, you worked 50 hours a week? Wow not bad..

Do most firms allow you to get in at 6am and leave at 4 or 5pm?

As an associate this probably will not work, if you come in at 6am but then a big project comes up that needs to be done by the next morning for a partner you will be there till it is finished...I doubt any associates at big law firms have set times that they leave every day.

So getting work done early isn't really an option? Are you also suggesting that most projects are received and finished on a daily basis?

Also, how many hours does a partner work? Is it something absurdly low or obnoxiously high?

[rayiner]

It depends on what you do and the firm.
The place where I worked (V25 law firm) out it was 9-7 M-F

That was litigation though.

50 hours a week isn't bad at all...

[wildcatsss]

Also, how many hours does a partner work? Is it something absurdly low or obnoxiously high?

In my experience, a partner may or may not work more hours than an associate. The main difference is that partners have more say over how many hours they work than associates do. For example, one of my bosses is a partner and works probably 30 hours per week. My other boss is an associate and I am not sure how many hours he works (because when he's not there I'm never quite sure if he's in court or off playing), but I would guess that he works about 45 hours per week.