The Hours Open Thread: How Are Your 2011 Billables?

We're doing this a little bit late this year, but it's an important question. We're into the fourth quarter and we haven't yet asked you guys: how many hours are you on track to bill this year?

We’re doing this a little bit late this year. We’re into the fourth quarter and we haven’t yet asked you guys: how many hours are you on track to bill this year?

It’s an important question.

Remember firm leadership has already started trying to manage expectations about 2011 bonuses.

And between the natural inclination to keep as much money as possible and prudent concerns over a double-dip recession, many firms will want to hold the line on associate bonuses.

But that’s going to be harder to do if people have been busting their tails…

If people have been working hard, it’ll be harder to lowball them when it comes to bonus time. If people have been working hard, more will hit their hours minimums at firms that have cutoffs for bonus eligiblity. If people have been working hard — even in this era of alternative fee arrangements and writing off first-year time — the firms should be happy and profitable.

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So, have people been working hard?

Let’s find out. Take our reader poll below. Remember this is for how many hours you are on track for, not for how many hours you can overbill in December as you desperately try to hit the bonus cutoff. (If you are a law student or not a legal biller, just click “View Results” at the bottom.)

How many hours are you on track to bill in 2011?

  • 2200 - 2499 (18%, 187 Votes)
  • 2000 - 2099 (17%, 172 Votes)
  • 1900 - 1999 (13%, 139 Votes)
  • 1800 - 1899 (13%, 137 Votes)
  • 2100 - 2199 (11%, 114 Votes)
  • Less than 1600 (10%, 103 Votes)
  • More than 2500 (8%, 84 Votes)
  • 1700 - 1799 (5%, 55 Votes)
  • 1600 - 1699 (5%, 52 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,042

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Earlier: The Hours: Results
Biglaw Starts To Manage Expectations About Bonuses


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