Associate Life Survey: Billing on the Fourth of July
In Monday’s ATL / Lateral Link survey, we asked you whether you worked over the Fourth of July Weekend this year.
We received 1,416 responses, and, not counting summer associates, 60% of you reported that you took the day off. Associates in Boston and Denver were most likely to celebrate the holiday, with roughly 80% of respondents in those cities taking the full three-day weekend, while associates in the Bay Area were most likely to be working, with roughly 44% of respondents there logging some billable hours. (Respondents in the Bay Area were also most likely to work over Christmas and New Year’s, on Martin Luther King’s birthday, and over Memorial Day Weekend.)
Of those who spent the day at the office, about 52% reported that they weren’t actually asked to work the holiday, but had things they needed to get done, which is roughly the same as what we reported on Martin Luther King’s birthday and Memorial Day Weekend. About 18% said that partners told them to work on the holiday. About 16% were asked to work by clients. Another 14% said they needed the hours, which is up slightly from Memorial Day Weekend.
Just over two percent of respondents who worked over the holiday weekend, however, said that they “wanted to impress people.”
About 63% of respondents who worked on the holiday believed that the work justified the sacrifice.
—
Justin Bernold is a Director at Lateral Link, the sponsor of this Associate Life Survey.
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1, that is all
More important stat? 37% of respondents who worked on the holiday believed that the work DIDN'T justify the sacrifice.
That 2% who just wanted to impress people succeeded... in impressing everyone as to their massive TTToolness
I like your cat pictures, Justin.
Meh, the Lolcats aren't what they used to be. Everything that is posted on icanhazcheezeburger is pretty garbage now. Is there a funnier site out there, or is Justin just relying on the older, funnier Lolz?
what is up with the cat pictures?
The lolcats really have to go. Wasn't funny when it started... isn't funny now.... and will never be funny.... Cut it out.
10:52: I doubt it. Who are you more likely to no-offer -- the diligent workaholic who sacrifices their holiday, or the lazy entitled person who enjoys it?
11:07: co-signed. Captions aren't suddenly clever when a glazed-looking cat is attached to them.
I disagree:
http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/ceilingcat9xd.jpg
always cracks me up.
this caption almost works.
or rather, the caption works, but the pic is fail.
Man, what is with the somewhat racist Avvo ads? The nerdy white guy is a great lawyer, but the black guy is a rapper-wannabe who you should avoid? Why not just give him an Uzi and say "Avvo: The best way to find out that your black lawyer is a criminal!"
11:08 - My law school roommate was almost no-offered because he spent too much time in the office and not participating in firm social events, so billables aren't everything. Besides, I'd rather have a well-rested and refreshed associate doing top notch work than a workaholic with 2 ulcers or someone who puts in face time on the weekends trying to impress me with half-hearted busywork.
11:56: every intelligent associate realizes that the firm social events are, for all intents and purposes, mandatory. Even the EIC of the Harvard Law Review can't absent himself from them. Your roommate must have been somewhat thick, or at least ignorant of the firm's expectations.
Second, what top-notch work are you referring to? Do you mean an extra two hours of document review, or another barely-read memo?
Haha. That kitty's back, and still all dressed. I hope they have casual Caturday at his office.
12:34 - Ha. This is why I don't miss Biglaw. New associates in my office are getting trials barely 3 months in. As in, standing up to make an argument and examine witnesses, not just passing notes to the partner. Go back to staring out your 50th floor window watching life pass you by, while I enjoy the sunshine at 6pm.