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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Let me ask a question and, since this is an anonymous board, am hoping lawyers here will be candid.

Simple question, asked in earnest:  Why do BigLaw lawyers have to work so much?  Why does the work take so long?

Or is the amount of time spent working (e.g., people working circa 60-65 hours a week, week in, week out) usually [b]a reflection that you can bill it[/b] -- e.g. "If I work 12 hours a day, or can credibly bill it, I/we get paid for it and the money's good."  That is, the amount of work expands to fill up what the clients' tolerance for billing amount is.  If that's the answer, or an answer, there's nothing wrong with that and it would explain a lot. In place like D.C., people spend a lot of legal services. Supply meets demand, etc.

But, still, what takes so long?   Know a couple of lawyers (not kids either) and they'll groan something like "I worked from 9 am til 4 am the next day"  and I feel like saying doing [b]what[/b]?  What could possibly take so long?

Please explain.  Thank you![/quote]

Ugh this is a common misconception and rarely true.

I never bill a single moment I don’t need to. When I work all night (a few times a year) it’s because there was work that only I could do. As in, prepping for oral argument and only two lawyers are going to court, me and someone else. Or finalizing my brief for filing. Or getting ready for a mediation. These are times when I am the gatekeeper on the work (I am the one who knows the law and the facts and will be reasonable for the outcome) so I can’t just split the work with someone else and do it faster.

It’s also not consistent. I work 90-100 hours some weeks and 10 some others. And there’s not really anything I can do about that. [/quote]

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