Billable Hours
Billable Hours is the standard way lawyers and law firms track and charge for their time. It's a system where attorneys record their work time in detailed increments (usually 6-minute blocks). When you see this term in resumes, it shows that the candidate understands how law firms make money and can manage their time professionally. Similar terms include "billable time," "hourly billing," or "time tracking." This is crucial because most law firms set yearly billable hour targets for their attorneys, usually between 1,800 to 2,200 hours, which helps measure productivity and determine compensation.
Examples in Resumes
Consistently exceeded annual Billable Hours target of 2,000 hours while maintaining 95% collection rate
Managed team of associates to meet Billable Time requirements while ensuring work quality
Implemented new Billable Hours tracking system that improved accuracy and client billing efficiency
Typical job title: "Legal Professionals"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Professionals
Legal Professional Networks
Legal Job Boards
Professional Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure high billable hour productivity while maintaining work quality?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that discuss time management systems, delegation strategies, and quality control processes. They should mention experience in supervising others' billable hours and maintaining client satisfaction.
Q: What strategies have you implemented to improve billing efficiency?
Expected Answer: Strong answers should include examples of implementing billing software, creating standard billing procedures, or training others on time-tracking best practices.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you track and manage your billable hours?
Expected Answer: Candidate should describe specific time-tracking methods, software they've used, and how they ensure accuracy in their billing entries.
Q: What is your typical approach to meeting billable hour requirements?
Expected Answer: Look for answers showing time management skills, prioritization abilities, and understanding of balancing billable work with other responsibilities.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you understand about billable hours in legal practice?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of how law firms bill clients, time increments used, and importance of accurate time tracking.
Q: How would you handle multiple assignments while tracking billable hours?
Expected Answer: Should show awareness of basic time management skills and understanding of how to document time spent on different client matters.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic time tracking
- Understanding billing increments
- Use of billing software
- Basic client matter organization
Mid (2-5 years)
- Efficient time management
- Meeting billing targets consistently
- Managing multiple client matters
- Detailed time entry descriptions
Senior (5+ years)
- Supervising associate billing
- Client billing strategy
- Billing policy development
- Training others on time management
Red Flags to Watch For
- Inability to explain basic time tracking concepts
- History of missing billing targets
- Poor attention to detail in time records
- Lack of experience with legal billing software
