An AmLaw 100 firm set an expectation that associates contribute a minimum of 2,400 total productive ("all-in") hours per year, generally including at least 2,000 billable hours. Remaining hours must be spent on productive non-billable activities such as practice and business development, professional development, recruiting, and other firm initiatives. The requirement equates to over 46 hours per week across 52 weeks, roughly nine hours per day on a five-day schedule or about 7.6 hours on a six-day schedule, excluding holidays, vacations, caregiving, and sleep. The expectation raises concerns about work-life balance, mental health, and associate burnout.
Assuming 52 weeks a year, working 2400 hours means working over 46 hours a week, week in and week out. That's a little over 9 hours a day assuming a five-day week. I know, what big law associate works 5 days a week? At 6 days a week, your daily grind is manageable 7.6 hours a day. Of course, that means working what most people would consider a full day every single Saturday.
But of course, there's those pesky things called holidays (5 days a year if you grudgingly decide to celebrate the most important ones) and vacations (two 5-6 day weeks wasted). Not to mention time wasters like taking care of kids, personal hygiene, and that overrated activity called sleep. It's no wonder younger lawyers who are juggling several balls are gagging. Work-life balance? Meh.
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