Billing 3000 Hours: Is It Possible and How to Do It?

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Billing 3000 Hours: Is It Possible and How to Do It?

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published June 26, 2012

By Harrison Barnes, CEO and Founder - BCG Attorney Search

To start with, let’s admit that 3,000 billable hours a year is an attainable target for a young and energetic lawyer. It can be done, honestly, though it would leave much to be desired regarding the human state of existence. However, 3000 billable hours as a law-firm wide quota is somewhat unrealistic, as it is not attainable by average methods and by average people. Last year in December 2011, a lawyer sued his law firm based in California. The matter was covered in the ABA Journal, and the lawyer accused the law firm of diluting its billing, and/or forcing associates and employees to commit billing fraud with such a high quota. In this case, Mr. Unitans sparked off a storm of reactions across the country holding that 3,000 billable hours was attainable but abominable unless ‘creative billing’ was involved. This article is not about ‘creative billing,’ but about whether billing 3,000 hours a year is possible, and what it takes to get there.

The mathematics of 3000 billable hours – why it seems impossible

According to the news covering the case of Richard Unitan published by ABA Journal; “A 3,000-hour billable requirement would require working about eight hours a day, every day of the year.” This statement is incorrect.

Actually, to bill 3000 hours would mean “billing” eight hours a day, every day of the year. However, having eight billable hours a day usually means you need to work about 12-14 hours a day, every day of the year. So that sentence should have read, “A 3,000-hour billable requirement would require working about 12-14 hours a day, every day of the year.”

Under normal circumstances, considering a 5-day workday week and that there are 52 weeks in a year, 3000 billable hours would mean logging 12 billable hours a day, and that would then entail working 14-16 hours a day, every day of the 5-day workday week, for all 52 weeks of the year. Not a pretty prospect.

As an internet commenter observed: “Billing 3,000 hours should trigger an ethics investigation. More than 3,500 hours should trigger an ethics investigation with a rebuttable presumption of guilt.”

However, the response to the above commenter was: “You are assuming that these people don’t work 14 hours a day. That is a dangerous assumption … I’ve done it for 3 years. It is terrible, but it is doable without being unethical. You just never see your family, the sun, and have a vitamin D deficiency.”

How to manage billing 3000 hours a year without being unethical

A number of attorneys maintain that it is quite possible to bill 3000 hours a year without being unethical provided one does proper time management, schedules things properly, does not sit idle waiting for feedbacks or responses from other attorneys, get engaged in document review, and make trade-offs with family priorities.

According to some, billing 3000 hours is quite possible when you are working in a big law firm. Additionally, the firm must have a well-paid and trained day and night staff to avoid time wastage on administrative issues.

Not counting the time for commuting, which varies from person to person according to location, it is possible to leave home at 6:30 am and return by 7:30 pm (counting half an hour commuting to the office and back each time). Solo practitioners are known to work much longer hours, and it does not necessarily involve dishonesty, but it does involve dedicated hard work.

However, there is a need to manage time and cut down on the non-billable hours within the day. Also studying law and staying up to date comes either in the course of work or in late hours.

Is 3000 billable hours doable? Always. Time management, prioritizing, using assistants to their best effect, maintaining calendars, and even keeping working on the notepad while going to, returning from, and waiting for your scheduled doctor’s appointment is going to help along. Any average solo practitioner needs to work an average of 70 hours a week, though they do not bill for those 70 hours. It can be done much better when you have a supportive family that understands your needs.

About Harrison Barnes

No legal recruiter in the United States has placed more attorneys at top law firms across every practice area than Harrison Barnes. His unmatched expertise, industry connections, and proven placement strategies have made him the most influential legal career advisor for attorneys seeking success in Big Law, elite boutiques, mid-sized firms, small firms, firms in the largest and smallest markets, and in over 350 separate practice areas.

A Reach Unlike Any Other Legal Recruiter

Most legal recruiters focus only on placing attorneys in large markets or specific practice areas, but Harrison places attorneys at all levels, in all practice areas, and in all locations—from the most prestigious firms in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., to small and mid-sized firms in rural markets. Every week, he successfully places attorneys not only in high-demand practice areas like corporate and litigation but also in niche and less commonly recruited areas such as:

Immigration law
Workers’ compensation
Insurance defense
Family law
Trusts & estates
Municipal law
And many more...

This breadth of placements is unheard of in the legal recruiting industry and is a testament to his extraordinary ability to connect attorneys with the right firms, regardless of market size or practice area.

Proven Success at All Levels

With over 25 years of experience, Harrison has successfully placed attorneys at over 1,000 law firms, including:

Top Am Law 100 firms such including Sullivan and Cromwell, and almost every AmLaw 100 and AmLaw 200 law firm.
Elite boutique firms with specialized practices
Mid-sized firms looking to expand their practice areas
Growing firms in small and rural markets

He has also placed hundreds of law firm partners and has worked on firm and practice area mergers, helping law firms strategically grow their teams.

Unmatched Commitment to Attorney Success – The Story of BCG Attorney Search

Harrison Barnes is not just the most effective legal recruiter in the country, he is also the founder of BCG Attorney Search, a recruiting powerhouse that has helped thousands of attorneys transform their careers. His vision for BCG goes beyond just job placement; it is built on a mission to provide attorneys with opportunities they would never have access to otherwise. Unlike traditional recruiting firms, BCG Attorney Search operates as a career partner, not just a placement service. The firm’s unparalleled resources, including a team of over 150 employees, enable it to offer customized job searches, direct outreach to firms, and market intelligence that no other legal recruiting service provides. Attorneys working with Harrison and BCG gain access to hidden opportunities, real-time insights on firm hiring trends, and guidance from a team that truly understands the legal market. You can read more about how BCG Attorney Search revolutionizes legal recruiting here: The Story of BCG Attorney Search and What We Do for You.

The Most Trusted Career Advisor for Attorneys

Harrison’s legal career insights are the most widely followed in the profession.

His articles on BCG Search alone are read by over 150,000 attorneys per month, making his guidance the most sought-after in the legal field. Read his latest insights here.
He has conducted hundreds of hours of career development webinars, available here: Harrison Barnes Webinar Replays.
His placement success is unmatched—see examples here: Harrison Barnes' Attorney Placements.
He has created numerous comprehensive career development courses, including BigLaw Breakthrough, designed to help attorneys land positions at elite law firms.

Submit Your Resume to Work with Harrison Barnes

If you are serious about advancing your legal career and want access to the most sought-after law firm opportunities, Harrison Barnes is the most powerful recruiter to have on your side.

Submit your resume today to start working with him: Submit Resume Here.

With an unmatched track record of success, a vast team of over 150 dedicated employees, and a reach into every market and practice area, Harrison Barnes is the recruiter who makes career transformations happen and has the talent and resources behind him to make this happen.

A Relentless Commitment to Attorney Success

Unlike most recruiters who work with only a narrow subset of attorneys, Harrison Barnes works with lawyers at all stages of their careers, from junior associates to senior partners, in every practice area imaginable. His placements are not limited to only those with "elite" credentials—he has helped thousands of attorneys, including those who thought it was impossible to move firms, find their next great opportunity.

Harrison’s work is backed by a team of over 150 professionals who work around the clock to uncover hidden job opportunities at law firms across the country. His team:

Finds and creates job openings that aren’t publicly listed, giving attorneys access to exclusive opportunities.
Works closely with candidates to ensure their resumes and applications stand out.
Provides ongoing guidance and career coaching to help attorneys navigate interviews, negotiations, and transitions successfully.

This level of dedicated support is unmatched in the legal recruiting industry.

A Legal Recruiter Who Changes Lives

Harrison believes that every attorney—no matter their background, law school, or previous experience—has the potential to find success in the right law firm environment. Many attorneys come to him feeling stuck in their careers, underpaid, or unsure of their next steps. Through his unique ability to identify the right opportunities, he helps attorneys transform their careers in ways they never thought possible.

He has worked with:

Attorneys making below-market salaries who went on to double or triple their earnings at new firms.
Senior attorneys who believed they were “too experienced” to make a move and found better roles with firms eager for their expertise.
Attorneys in small or remote markets who assumed they had no options—only to be placed at strong firms they never knew existed.
Partners looking for a better platform or more autonomy who successfully transitioned to firms where they could grow their practice.

For attorneys who think their options are limited, Harrison Barnes has proven time and time again that opportunities exist—often in places they never expected.

Submit Your Resume Today – Start Your Career Transformation

If you want to explore new career opportunities, Harrison Barnes and BCG Attorney Search are your best resources. Whether you are looking for a BigLaw position, a boutique firm, or a move to a better work environment, Harrison’s expertise will help you take control of your future.

? Submit Your Resume Here to get started with Harrison Barnes today.

Alternative Summary

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison’s writings about attorney careers and placement attract millions of reads each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks. His articles on legal search and placement are read by attorneys, law students and others millions of times per year.

More about Harrison

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