Final Billable Hour Check In of 2024

The first business day of December? That means one thing: it is time for my final billable hour check in of 2024.

My firm expects partners to track 2400 hours--a mix of billable, client work + firm, investment time (business development, mentoring, DEI, pro bono, firm meetings + committee work, administrative tasks, etc.).

Until October, this was the chillest year of my career--for a variety of reasons, such as: most first-year partners see their hours dip, and I had two cases resolve and another sit while awaiting a court decision. In late September, through now, my billables picked back up. But, because I couldn't just halt all the business development and investment time I had in the hopper, things really escalated for me.

So, as we sit here today, I've tracked 2,397.3 working hours this year--I've hit my goal.

Does that mean I can take December off? In my dreams--although I do look forward to being mostly offline the week of Christmas.

It does mean I can end my first year as partner on a high note, banking extra hours (billable and non-billable) as I continue in a billables sprint (that'll last until at least January) and as I reflect on this year, prepare my goals for 2025, and attend several holiday celebrations.

When I look at December's calendar, I see: 17 full working days and 5 zero hour days. There may be some weekend time, as I face some briefing and other deadlines until Christmas, but I won't bank on that this month.

I'll set my daily target at 8 hours, making this a 136-hour month--although I see several days on my calendar where I'll definitely exceed 8 hours.

In the beginning of my career, I was not intentional about my billing cycle(s). Those first two years, I would hit the last two months of the year and have to scramble to hit my target. That all changed when I discovered this system.

I don't always hit my goal early, but when I do, it definitely takes some weight off.

✌🏻❤️🔥