Anonymous
03/10/2026 02:11
Subject: Re:At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Like say someone emails you and says ‘I’m trying to determine X and I need access to the data from your group for blah blah’. What would be the general expectation for a response?
Who is the someone? A random person, unrelated to my organization? A co-worker? A customer?
Is this a normal and expected request or an unusual one? How much effort and time does it require on my part?
All of this matters.
In most cases, there would be a response on the same day or, at worst, the next morning, except if I am sick or on vacation. I would expect the same from others. I don't have a secretary and answer my own email messages.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 21:56
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
I get that the biglaw people need to act like billing is an exact science because they don't want people to know that the foundation for their multimillion dollar compensation is a house of cards. When I was in biglaw, the creative billing that people do was discussed pretty openly. Billing for two tasks simultaneously, billing for thinking about a case while getting dressed in the morning, etc. I understood well that there was a reason others were billing more than me but seemed to be working less, and it wasn't because they made better use of their time than me.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 21:09
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
You absolutely have to double or triple bill. How else are you going to meet that 2700 hour minimum?
Anonymous
03/09/2026 20:07
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
If they bill the same 6 minutes to the client on the call and the client they're emailing, that's double billing. However, most would split the time (e.g., client on the call doesn't get a bill for the full time of the call) which is fine.
I'm more skeptical that they're giving good value if they talk and read substantive emails at the same time - people who do that usually use a lot of filler and aren't focused communicators - but if the clients are happy then it doesn't really matter.
Most people who bill in 0.1 increments aren't keeping track exactly. They're just coming up with an estimate at the end of every day.
I don't know "most people" but my firm had daily sheets where you noted what time you moved to another matter.
I have never heard of this in biglaw. Plus, how is there any way to know if those "daily sheets" are accurate? Let's be real here -- for most tasks, it's impossible to know exactly how long it should take. For example, if a partner is preparing for an important deposition, it's a total black box as to what a reasonable amount of time is. But sure, fill out those "daily sheets" to make it all seem more defensible.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 20:00
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
That's super disrespectful towards the client you're on the call with, and really self-involved. I suspect those clients know you're not their priority.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 18:31
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
If they bill the same 6 minutes to the client on the call and the client they're emailing, that's double billing. However, most would split the time (e.g., client on the call doesn't get a bill for the full time of the call) which is fine.
I'm more skeptical that they're giving good value if they talk and read substantive emails at the same time - people who do that usually use a lot of filler and aren't focused communicators - but if the clients are happy then it doesn't really matter.
Most people who bill in 0.1 increments aren't keeping track exactly. They're just coming up with an estimate at the end of every day.
I don't know "most people" but my firm had daily sheets where you noted what time you moved to another matter.
And if you overcharge, you’ll get caught.
My dad is a lawyer who ran a legal fee auditing consulting firm for years. Made a ton of off of saving big corporations money on their legal fees.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 18:27
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
If they bill the same 6 minutes to the client on the call and the client they're emailing, that's double billing. However, most would split the time (e.g., client on the call doesn't get a bill for the full time of the call) which is fine.
I'm more skeptical that they're giving good value if they talk and read substantive emails at the same time - people who do that usually use a lot of filler and aren't focused communicators - but if the clients are happy then it doesn't really matter.
Most people who bill in 0.1 increments aren't keeping track exactly. They're just coming up with an estimate at the end of every day.
I don't know "most people" but my firm had daily sheets where you noted what time you moved to another matter.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 18:17
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
If they bill the same 6 minutes to the client on the call and the client they're emailing, that's double billing. However, most would split the time (e.g., client on the call doesn't get a bill for the full time of the call) which is fine.
I'm more skeptical that they're giving good value if they talk and read substantive emails at the same time - people who do that usually use a lot of filler and aren't focused communicators - but if the clients are happy then it doesn't really matter.
Most people who bill in 0.1 increments aren't keeping track exactly. They're just coming up with an estimate at the end of every day.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 09:48
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
I get in excess of 175 emails a day. Expecting a response within an hour is laughable.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 07:14
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
If they bill the same 6 minutes to the client on the call and the client they're emailing, that's double billing. However, most would split the time (e.g., client on the call doesn't get a bill for the full time of the call) which is fine.
I'm more skeptical that they're giving good value if they talk and read substantive emails at the same time - people who do that usually use a lot of filler and aren't focused communicators - but if the clients are happy then it doesn't really matter.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 07:03
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
hm. this person sounds sounds really organized. I wouldn't have jumped to worry about that.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 01:03
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
I’m fairly prompt with at least an acknowledgement email, but if I’m in meetings all day, things can get lost in the shuffle. But typically by EOD or by next AM.
Anonymous
03/09/2026 01:01
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:I'm an attorney. I have probably 400-600 emails a day that demand my attention. I spend probably 3-7 hours a day on client calls.
During a presentation a few years ago, a consultant told us that clients said a response within 18 minutes was considered timely, and anything beyond that untimely. So i try to respond to everything within an hour at least with "will look and revert. Timing is noted".
I generally need to be reading and sending emails during all my client calls. Some of those calls, I'm less integral so it's easy to multitask. Some of those calls, I am the star of the show, but i'm still reading emails and responding while talking.
I'm very, very good at my job. For the academic above who said 7-10 days is good responsiveness: That's fine in your industry but i would posit there's a reason why i get paid 10 times an academic's salary.
What sort of law? Do your clients mind that you double and triple bill?
Anonymous
03/09/2026 00:58
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:mAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Within an hour, if you need longer than that then please give an acknowledgment email within the hour.
No expectation to respond outside of 9-5.
All these people who want a response within an hour - do you ever pick up the phone? If it's urgent, I call people. If it has to be a written request, I still call to make sure they're available and that they saw my email or know to expect it.
That’s so annoying, though. I hate when anyone cold calls. If you want something urgent, text me. I’m going to ignore your call.
You’re going to ignore a call but then expect someone else to respond to an email within 1hr? That’s….insane.
No one cold calls anymore. It’s just not done
Anonymous
03/08/2026 23:11
Subject: At your workplace, is the expectation that you will respond to emails in a timely fashion?
Big law adjacent - 30 mins