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One Firm’s Move Away from the Billable Hour

November 20, 2014

Jackson Lewis announced plans to stop using billable hours to evaluate associates, instead focusing on factors such as efficiency and effectiveness. Experts say that the move could prompt other firms to rethink their own associate evaluations.

Jackson Lewis announced plans to stop using billable hours to evaluate associates, instead focusing on factors such as efficiency and effectiveness. The firm’s new approach will consider factors like efficiency, responsiveness, pro bono work and overall quality of associate work. Vincent Cino, Jackson Lewis Chairman stated, “the billable hour that’s been talked about for 20 years is coming to an end.” Cino added that Jackson Lewis has been a leader in the industry when it comes to providing alternative fee arrangements to clients, who are increasingly looking for certainty in their legal budgets. Removing billable hours from the process of evaluating associates is something the firm views as a logical next move.

Jackson Lewis’s move is likely to generate discussion at other firms, among both partners and associates, and even at law school career service offices. Law 360 has the full story behind the firm’s move away from the billable hour and why it believes that the change will encourage associates to achieve positive results in the most efficient manner.