Discussion by lawyers, for lawyers

First year Lawyer with 6 months practice experience. I work in a general practice firm with about 25 employees.

The people at the firm are incredibly nice, I get along with everyone. In fact, I have multiple friend and family connections with the firm so it is imperative I keep a healthy non-confrontational relationship with them.

Anyway, I am expected to bill 6 hours a day. Months 1-3 I was doing this quite comfortably - granted it took a lot of hard work but it was achievable. Months 3-6 there simply hasn’t been enough work. I am having to do letters in advance, asking senior lawyers/partners if there’s anything for me to do, resorting to non-billable tasks such as admin and filing.

The Law Clerk/Practice Manager I work directly under doesn’t give me any new files. She is doing 8-10 appointments a week and I do 1 maximum.

I’ve mentioned to them multiple times that I have capacity to do more and I am worried that I will be made redundant if I continually raise I have nothing to do.

What should be my move ?