New Associate Year

A new associate year means starting the #billablehour requirement from scratch.

My firm requires associates to hit 1900 base hours.

Divide that by 12 and you get a monthly goal of 158.4 hours.

There are 19.5 billable days in this month (for me). The .5 day is for when I had jury duty last week. Otherwise, I plan to bill mostly full days every other working day in July.

158.4 / 19.5 = 8.2 on full days and 4.2 on half days.

I will adjust each day and week as I meet, exceed, or miss the goal.

This process allows me to stay on top of the #billablehour and prevent crunch time come the end of the cross year.

It also helps me account for slower times, by annualizing that time over the rest of the week, month, and year.

For example: I'm hoping to take some time off in August. I can account for that by trying to exceed July's goal or spreading that missed time over September through June.

If I truly fall behind, I can pick up a pro bono matter or firm-billable work, tracking everything so that the firm knows I'm not twiddling my thumbs when it slows down (and there will be slow times, every year).

This process has really set me free when it comes to the #billablehour. It doesn't have to control you. It can be a tool that you manage every step of the way.

#lawyerwellbeing #bestadvice #work