Convictions: Slate's blog on legal issues



  • « Prev | Main | Next »

    "Part Time" as Legal Fiction

    Posted Wednesday, April 09, 2008 1:24 PM | By Phillip Carter
    Orin, you're quite right to call me out on the "part time" fiction at big law firms.  Quite simply, it ain't true.  This is clearly a function of the profit motives you cite, and the all-consuming quest to maximize billable hours among lawyers.  However, I also think it's a function of how law firm billable requirements have exploded over the last several years as part of an upward-and-upward spiral of associate compensation, partner compensation, billable hours requirements and hourly fees.  These requirements have been inching upwards for years, to the point where I have many friends at large firms who work the hours of 1.5 lawyers, or even 2 lawyers in some cases.  For these associates, going to a "part time" schedule means downsizing to only 40 hours a week -- a significant reduction from the crushing workloads they carry now, but certainly nothing like what most people think of when they say "part time."
    Filed under: ,
Print This ArticlePRINT Discuss in the FrayDISCUSS
<April 2008>
SMTWTFS
303112345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930123
45678910
Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum
What did you think of this article?
POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES

Syndication

Blogroll