Associates at King & Spalding recently received an update to firm policy that is worrying folks. The firm told associates they are responsible for 2,400 “productive” hours (broader than “billable” hours, but narrower than all working hours) in order to be in good standing at the firm. And “good standing” is, of course, linked to bonuses.
The firm’s policy is as follows:
To ensure that our lawyers develop professionally and meet client needs, associates are expected to contribute a minimum of 2,400 total productive (“all–in”) hours, which generally includes at least 2,000 billable hours. The remaining hours should be dedicated to productive non-billable contributions, such as practice and business development, professional development, recruiting, and other practice and firm initiatives.
Formally, K&S hasn’t changed their requirement of 1,950 billable hours to be bonus eligible, leaving confusion (along with anger) in the wake of the new policy. But this isn’t the first time the firm’s policies have sown discontent. Last month, we told you about the passive aggressive campaign at the firm to get associates to come into the office, despite hyping a “no facetime” culture, and holding bonuses over attorneys’ heads to get them to comply. This follows a similar model, with attorneys feeling blindsided by a new operating procedure that puts their bonuses at risk — although the exact penalties for noncompliance remain opaque and the rollout has been criticized internally for its lack of transparency.
Folks at the firm are NOT taking this well. Tipsters at the firm have described it as “insane,” “not doable,” “inhumane,” and one insider even said this is part of the firm’s glorification of attorneys who “never see their families.” These may seem like some pretty harsh words from the K&S rank and file, but an ill-defined 2,400 hours requirement with a nebulous enforcement mechanism is harsh, and this is a commensurate response.
This lack of clarity on what it takes to remain in good standing at the firm, and the penalty for noncompliance — communicated more than halfway through the year, no less — is just wild. And leadership at K&S *has* to know they aren’t winning the hearts and minds of the associates when they play fast and loose with hours targets and in-office requirements. No wonder insiders say morale is in the toilet.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
