Billable Hours
Billable Hours are the time legal professionals spend working on client matters that can be charged to the client. This is the standard way law firms track and bill their work. Think of it like a taxi meter that runs while the lawyer is actively working on a client's case. It includes activities like research, writing documents, court appearances, and client meetings. Many law firms require attorneys to meet yearly billable hour targets, typically ranging from 1,800 to 2,200 hours. This system is similar to how consultants and some other professional services charge for their time.
Examples in Resumes
Consistently exceeded billable hours target of 2,000 hours annually
Managed team of associates to meet billable hour requirements while maintaining work quality
Developed efficient work processes to maximize billable hours while reducing administrative time
Typical job title: "Legal Professionals"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Professionals
Legal Professional Networks
Legal Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How do you manage a team to meet billable targets while maintaining work-life balance?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that demonstrate experience in workload distribution, mentoring junior staff on time management, and implementing efficient processes while considering team wellbeing.
Q: What strategies have you implemented to improve billing efficiency?
Expected Answer: Candidate should discuss experience with billing software, creating standard procedures, and methods to reduce non-billable administrative time.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you track and categorize your billable hours?
Expected Answer: Should describe experience with time tracking systems, proper documentation of work, and understanding of what activities count as billable versus non-billable.
Q: How do you handle pressure to meet billable hour requirements?
Expected Answer: Look for answers about time management skills, prioritization strategies, and maintaining work quality while meeting targets.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you understand about billable hours requirements?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of billable hours concept, typical targets, and what activities count as billable time.
Q: How do you plan to organize your day to maximize billable hours?
Expected Answer: Should show awareness of time management, basic organization skills, and understanding of balancing billable work with administrative tasks.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic time tracking
- Understanding billable vs non-billable activities
- Use of billing software
- Time management
Mid (2-5 years)
- Efficient time recording practices
- Meeting billing targets consistently
- Client billing management
- Workload prioritization
Senior (5+ years)
- Team billing oversight
- Billing efficiency improvement
- Client billing strategy
- Resource allocation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Inability to explain basic time tracking principles
- Poor understanding of billable versus non-billable activities
- History of consistently missing billable targets
- Lack of experience with legal billing software
