Last month, we lamented how it was “far too often” that “young lawyers perceive that their value to their firm is proportionate to the numbers on their time sheet, pro-rated credit rating or reputation for face time.” (See “Mix a Little Face Time in With All Those Billable Hours,” published Feb. 23.) We encouraged our colleagues to look beyond the billable hour to develop the lawyer skills that are far less easy to quantify, like creativity and counseling, which can be learned only through experience and practice.
This month, we turn the tables. Just change the above-quoted sentence to “far too often, firm management and partners perceive that young lawyers’ value to their firm is proportionate to the numbers on their time sheet, pro-rated credit rating or reputation for face time,” and you have a vision that is not likely to leave a firm with a legacy of lasting success. Singular focus on billable hours alone could turn even the most enthusiastic and brilliant young lawyers into burnt-out “yes men” and “yes women” who come in only for the paycheck and the bonus.
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