Foley & Lardner LLP’s Chief Talent Officer Rebecca Bradley shared guidance for how associates can manage time and meet their hour targets in the Law360 article, “4 Tips To Hit Billable Hours Out Of The Park This Year.”
Bradley recommended that associates take the initial step of dividing their annual billable hour target by the number of weeks they plan to work this year. Making sure they remember to account for vacations, attorneys can then use the data to generate a yearly calendar that factors in expected workflow fluctuations, nonbillable activities, and other planned time away.
“If you’re involved in a trial set for June, your weekly hours will need to increase in the months leading up to it,” Bradly explained. “If you plan to attend an industry conference, reduce your target that week to allow for conference preparation, activities, and follow-up. Similarly, remember that evaluation periods often involve drafting annual memos, so plan for nonbillable time during those months.”
She suggested that from here, attorneys create set hours goals for any given week or two-week period during the year.
“Aim to meet or exceed these targets and regularly monitor your progress to quickly identify when adjustments are needed to stay on track,” Bradley added. “If you experience an unexpected event like a case settlement or personal matter, you’ll be better positioned to make any necessary changes and meet your annual goal.”
