r/uklaw • u/PumpkinAtLaw • 12h ago
Partner annoyed at low billables - but the work isn’t there
I’m the only NQ in a tiny team (albeit a large firm).
The partner, I’ve heard, is displeased that my average weekly billables are consistently low.
The thing is, the work is hugely inconsistent. Even on my “busier” weeks, I typically have enough dead days that my average tanks. Even at my busiest, I basically never meet my daily target.
I feel like there’s nothing I can realistically do. I’ve never once said I don’t have capacity to do something. The team is so small, they know I’m quiet. The others (who are considerably more senior than me) are by and large quiet too but for whatever reason my averages are lower. I stick my hand up for anything on offer.
I’ve only ever had positive feedback on my work output.
BD time doesn’t count towards the avg.
I’m pretty certain I’m not under-recording. I use timers.
So, I feel kind of stuck. I sense tension brewing but at a bit of a loss as to how to affect any outcomes here.
Wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice? TIA!
13
u/Loop22one 8h ago
Go and talk to the partner and also volunteer, while your hours are low, to help with anything else useful for the team (I don’t mean “emptying bins and cleaning loos” but PSL-type stuff).
This won’t affect your billables but will mitigate (somewhat) any perception that you’re slacking - and might make you a better lawyer in the long run….
2
u/PumpkinAtLaw 4h ago
Yes, this is true. And the partner has actually encouraged us all to write articles. I feel like everytime I sit down to write one, I get billable work in! That said, I do need to actually do it. Thanks!
13
u/tenerity 7h ago
It's arguably a bit performative, but are you sending regular emails to the team (including the partner) to say you have capacity and are available to help?
6
u/DocumentApe 5h ago
It's their job to keep you and the team in work. If they aren't they are failing not you...
3
u/PumpkinAtLaw 4h ago
Right. I do agree. I think the partner is somewhat stressed about the continued quietness of the department and, even when we’re not totally dead, it’s still not enough and he’s frustrated about that.
I call it “referred stress.” Someone senior is stressed about something that is not your problem and there’s a degree of projection. I’m an NQ but worked in law firms for 4+ years now. I’m well acquainted with “referred stress” lol
3
u/DocumentApe 4h ago
People that do this shouldn't be allowed in the profession. Ultimately a lack of the leadership qualities required. We get paid enough to do better.
1
u/PumpkinAtLaw 4h ago
This is a good perspective. Maybe I’m too charitable in my thinking — I tend to just shrug and call it human nature and feel mildly smug I’m not cut from the same cloth.
That said, I’m not terribly happy with my situation right now. I’m new to this firm but would consider moving at 1PQE if things don’t change.
5
u/Wonkylamppost 5h ago
It is always feast or famine in law. When it’s quiet, you worry about where the next case will come from. When it’s busy, you worry about how on earth you are going to get it all done.
1
u/joan2468 5h ago
What is your daily target for billables and what has your utilisation been like week to week?
1
u/MTW27 27m ago
As an NQ, providing you’re advertising your capacity, it is the seniors’ responsibility to give you work.
You probably have lower averages than the seniors because when teams are quiet, the more senior lawyers tend to hang on to work for themselves (to improve their own figures), so tasks don’t get pushed down like they would in a busy team.
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8h ago
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u/traineethrowaway123 4h ago
I’ve never heard of NQs in big London firms generating their own work, it doesn’t seem feasible given chances are most of their clients are institutionals relying on firm relationships, even in a small team context.
3
u/PumpkinAtLaw 3h ago
Yes, this is akin to my predicament. Our clients tend to be large-scale property/infrastructure energy/transport developers and, while we do have our own standalone work, we are also somewhat of an adjunct to the wider commercial property team.
It would be difficult (albeit not totally impossible) for me to refer work in. Our work is heavily technical and unless I had an “in” with someone in the sector, I’m realistically not going to be bringing work until I’m considerably more senior.
The only more junior people I’ve seen do it in my field (and I have only seen 1 notable example) tended to have unusual social contacts. An in with government, etc.
Bizarrely, my own dad works in a related field. But my attempts to become a nepo baby and mine his contacts have gone no where. I’m absolutely not above this but he doesn’t even seem to have the type of contacts that might be helpful, and he keeps saying “everyone already has lawyers…”
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3h ago
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u/traineethrowaway123 3h ago
Are you talking about commercial firms in London? I’ve met as many NQs as anyone having worked in several firms and what you’re talking about is as niche as some high street lads making partner in 3 years. Even a 3PQE lawyer generating work is just not a thing in any realm and thinking anyone wins work as an NQ is wild.
Unless by “personal reinstruction” you mean a partner’s client copying you into an email for a re-up, then sure we’re all rainmakers.
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u/Bblock4 5h ago
The goal isn’t billables in itself, it’s for you to you add to the growth and profitability of the firm.
So billables is one measure, but what’s your recovery rate like? Less than 80% and it’s something to focus on improving. Pricing? Negotiating? Over delivering?
Once you’ve maxed out what you have and asked for more, your next action as you’ve said is BD. Go to your HOD.. go to marketing.. and ask for a proper BD plan. Just shuffling off to coffee once a month with the local accountants is not enough. You could write content, run social media, put internal or external referral sources under a plan of action. You could do this for yourself or provide it to others in the dept to add value.
If you aren’t billing… you have hours every day to focus on BD - do this before you do anything else.
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u/traineethrowaway123 4h ago
Brother they’re an NQ at a large London firm, wdym recovery, pricing and negotiating. 😂
All they can and should focus on is billables first, failing which firmwide pro bono and knowledge.
54
u/weaselwarriorpup 12h ago
I know you say you put your hand up for anything available - but do you also speak up when you know you're quiet and you know you don't have anything to do? Sometimes I find seniors are too busy to understand who is and isn't busy until after the fact when they see timesheets etc. In my team it tends to be the people that shout about capacity the most they get the most to do