THE BILLABLE HOURS DERBY: EMPIRICAL DATA ON THE PROBLEMS AND PRESSURE POINT

This Article addresses the frustration with billable hours in large law firms. The Author gathered empirical data to gauge the short and long-term effects of increases in billable hour expectations. An empirical study was conducted in 1999-2000 of associate satisfaction, law firm culture, and billing practices. The Article compares these findings to a 2005 NALP study on billable hours and a Work-Life split.

The Article concludes by considering what forces and players will change the current course of conduct in which law firm leaders treat increases in billable hours expectations as a necessary evil. The studies show the costs and consequences of billable hour pressure. The Author offers solutions to fix the billable hour culture.