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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I started working for a new firm.

They have an unusual pay structure.

The pay is $10k per month. Then an additional $10k if you make your 150 hours in the month. Then an additional $300/hour for every hour above 150 hours.

The hours are "billable hours" which the firm defines as hours that can be billed.

After my first month, my boss cut 20 hours and told me that they "can't" be billed. I'm a very senior level attorney and only went to this firm for the salary.

As a result, I lost $6000.

If I hadn't worked so many hours overtime, I would have lost my $10k "bonus".

My boss says that it's a "bonus," not salary, and cannot be expected so it's not illegal not to pay it.

I am a patent litigator so I'm not an employment law expert but I consulted with an employment law expert and they agreed with my boss. They said that it's under "contract law" and since the definition of "billable hours" is disputed, my boss could be right and a lawsuit could just be a waste of time and money.

Obviously I'm now looking for a new job *****after only a month and please don't tell me how bad this looks****** but I don't even know my rights.

Meanwhile can someone just tell me how common this is??? I've never heard of "billable hours" being hours the FIRM bills.

[/quote]

OP: You understand your current firm's practices regarding billing. Your only question is "how common is this" billing structure. Law firms are businesses free to create their own compensation structures. An "employment law expert" that you consulted agrees with your boss.

I am going to be blunt: Even though you are a "very senior level attorney", you lack commonsense regarding compensation matters.[/quote]

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