The XX Factor : billable hours

It's About Families, Not Females

Judith Shulevitz — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:56:00 GMT

Emily, Hanna: Two points. 1. This is, a s Emily put it not long ago , a family-values issue more than a feminist one, because studies are showing that men, too--maybe not those at the crazy-competitive high end of the spectrum, but still, a lot of them--want...(read more)

More on the Terrible Horrible No Good Billable Hour

Emily Bazelon — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:44:00 GMT

Judith , you nailed the efficiency vs. availability conundrum. I'm sure there is room for law firms to dethrone The Hour—and here's a good recent Slate piece by Lisa Lerer explaining why the push for them to do so is coming from their clients. Perhaps...(read more)

How the Billable Hour Hurts Women and Families

Judith Shulevitz — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:19:00 GMT

Dear Emily, Once, at a dinner party honoring the retirement of a friend of my father-in-law, I sat next to the law firm's former managing partner. You would have heard of the firm; it's one of those with huge offices in New York and Washington and all...(read more)

Law Firm Work: Less is More

Emily Bazelon — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:11:00 GMT

When law firms institute family-friendly policies (flex hours, reasonable work loads), who benefits? That depends how you measure it. Mothers at these firms are neither more nor less productive than mothers at other firms, as measured by billable hours,...(read more)