5.1.26 Billable Hours

May 1, 2026 -- first business day of the month -- you know what time it is: the billable (trackable) hour check in.

Every month, I take stock of where I stand against my firm's hours expectation.

For partners? That's 2400 hours all in--trackable hours--meaning: billable to clients, non-billable client work, and investment hours, which range from admin time to pro bono, charity and community work, personal and professional development, business development, and more.

Tracking your time, in .1 or six-minute increments, is not natural or intuitive, but it can become a system, routine, and habit. It can become a tool to take stock of how you're spending your time.

And: most high achievers are doing all these things for all these hours--most just don't have to track it.

So, because I do so much, I take stock.

I know where I stand and I adjust as I go, pushing hard after slow periods, taking advantage of high times to bank hours, and planning around days off.

For May, I see 18 full working days and 5 half working days. This leaves me with a buffer of 8 zero working days (for two weekends Up North and/or for working as needed (emergencies and deadlines happen)).

My goal this month is to track 200 billable and investment hours.

200 divided by 20.5 = 9.8 hours on full days and 4.9 hours on half days.

A really reasonable level of time for big law, if not on the lower end.

On many days this month, I'll exceed 9.8 hours because of trackable travel and conference days (CLOC CGI 2026 here I come), as well as after-work engagements.

And, I have two cases heating up, with two new matters getting started.

So, I'm hopeful to get ahead again this month, creating a buffer it matters settle or if I want to take time off in June when I turn 40.

When I miss the 9.8 or 4.9 goal, I'll tack hours on to the next day's goal, over the next week's goal, or over the rest of the month.

When I exceed the daily goal, I'll take time off the next day, rest of the week, or rest of the month, or I'll hold steady, banking that time.

The billable hour doesn't have to be a boogie man in your life. Tracking in real time, entering it daily, and knowing where you stand against your requirement help me be in charge of the billable hour and focus on everything else that pushes my career forward and keeps me content in law and in life.

🔥✌🏻♥️