Comments on: More on the Billable Hour, Charting Your Own Course

By: lukegilman

lukegilman — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:56:51 +0000

Thanks for the comment. I assume you're referring to productivity in churning out billable hours than the wisdom of the system itself? You might consider looking for a career consultant or "lawyer coach". I've spoken to Debra Bruce in the past here in Houston on that sort of thing. She has the advantage of many years of experience at a lawyer at large firms, smaller firms and starting her own firm before switching to consulting with lawyers about their own careers, and writes a regular column on the Texas Bar Journal. I would imagine there are similar people in other jurisdictions as well and for specific practice areas. Janet Moore is another former lawyer I know who specializes in helping international lawyers. The two productivity 'gurus' that are most often recommended to me are David Maister and David Allen (The 'Getting Things Done' guy). I've only briefly gone through their work, but have gotten a lot out of it.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:25:25 +0000

I would like to find some training materials or courses that are available outside my firm that help with billable hours. Maybe tips or trips from more senior attorneys then myself. Any ideas where I could find material like this would be appreciated.

By: Billables « PhiLAWdelphia

Billables « PhiLAWdelphia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:59:55 +0000

[...] just googled “pressure of the billable hour.”Â I found a blog called the Blawgraphy that has a great analysis of the billable phenomenon–along with a brief history, as well as [...]

By: Mark Bennett

Mark Bennett — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:33:10 +0000

Excellent post, Luke.

Three comments:

First, the practice of law can be, and should (above all else) be, fun. If you’re not having fun, quit. Making $190k a year and not having fun? You’re wasting your life. Keeping track of your time is not fun, but it might be justified by the balance of the experience.

Second, the public face of a firm on the “law firm reception tour” does not necessarily reflect the reality of practice at that firm. It sometimes takes some investigation to discover that working at a particular firm really isn’t fun.

Third, billable hours are insidious, but they don’t have to be a part of the culture at all. If you are your own boss, you don’t have to use the billable hour at all.

By: Susan Cartier Liebel

Susan Cartier Liebel — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:50:00 +0000

You did an amazing job here culling the information and links into one cogent and concise blog post. Good reading and excellent commentary.