The Billable Hour: Fears and One Pro

The billable hour: a topic we love to hate, but that drives reality for so, so many associates (and partners as far as I can tell).

🤷‍♀️ Honestly: that's because I've rarely minded it.

🤦‍♀️ It suits my time-management, perfectionist, track-everything personality.

👩‍🏫 It harkens back to when I taught fifth grade and had a timer going at all times--tracking every second of our learning time.

☠ But: it can be grueling.

When you're in the midst of a big-billing period:

⏲ How do you stay calm?
⏲ How do you find time for yourself?
⏲ How do you take advantage of breaks?
⏲ How do you make sure no balls drop?
⏲ How do you find time (and energy) for non-work commitments?

When you're in a slow-billing period:

⏲ How do you stay calm?
⏲ How do you find work?
⏲ How do you fill your time productively?
⏲ How do you enjoy it without feeling guilty?
⏲ How do you remember that it will pick back up eventually?

🤔 I don't have all these answers.

🧪 I'm still experimenting (even after almost seven years of billing time). I'm still trying, and sometimes failing, to practice sustainably.

I'll leave you with one pro to the billable hour, though: Becoming hyper aware of how you spend your time.
 
Almost every productivity expert recommends tracking your time for several days before experimenting with new productivity techniques.
 
Billing by the hour gives you a leg up on that.
 
That said:

👨‍⚖️ I believe there will be a billing alternative in my lifetime, but not any time soon.

📞 Until then, what are your tips for making it through?

#billablehour #associatelife #lawyerwellbeing #professionalwomen #biglaw