billable hour requirement for small/medium firms?

[RobnBig]

It seems like according to NALP, most large firms have a billable hour requirement between 1850-2000.  What about small and medium firms?  Maybe a little lower?  Any way of finding out (besides calling and asking), since a lot of small/medium, firms aren't are NALP?

[thorc954]

expect about the same billable hour requirement.  granted, you most likely wont be told that there is a billable requirement, but small/mid size firm associates work just as hard as big firm associates (except maybe the skaddens, etc). 

[themanwithnoname]

way more variable. some "small firms" are just big firms in waiting. I know somebody at a litigation boutique with a 2500 billable requirement - obscene.

[dandlewood]

This is a tough issue. In general, small firms have much less hours.  Medium firms usually stick to the 1600-2000+ range and you won't generally find a big firm under 1800.  There are exceptions to the rule, but that seems to be about right from my experience.  Pay is pretty much commensurate with your expected billable hours so small firms pay the least, etc.  "a hat for a cat, a cat for a hat, but nothing for nothing..."

[themanwithnoname]

bear in mind that "billable requirements" and actual hours billed might not have that much to do with eachother. a lot of the top biglaw firms don't have billables requirements, but not because they don't make you work much.

[ronaldo699]

my firm has 1950..  life gona suck?

[themanwithnoname]

my firm has 1950..  life gona suck?

are pro bono hours counted?

[thorc954]

my firm has 1950..  life gona suck?

1950 isnt bad.  From what I have seen at mine, you will probably work 9 in the morning till 8 at night most days.  Occasionally you will have a few things to do on weekends, and when a big event occurs (Case, merger, etc), you may have to pull a month straight of late nights.  However, that month will seriously increase your hours billed and will allow you the opportunity to use some of your vacation time at a later point.

work is fun anyway.

[NYC2L]

work is fun anyway.

Not if your real life is more fun.

Looks like you chose the wrong profession. I've heard that temp work is the way to go for someone whose real life is already fun and satisfying.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27698

[thorc954]

work is fun anyway.

Not if your real life is more fun.

Looks like you chose the wrong profession. I've heard that temp work is the way to go for someone whose real life is already fun and satisfying.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/27698

hahah.

are you doing temp work this summer NYC2LMan?  Also, do they make temp work track jackets?