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Sparty06
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Username: Sparty06

Post Number: 32
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 2:24 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Does any one have information on the large Detroit firms that would be useful to a law student? i.e. quality of life, strength of practice, growth, "true" billable hour requirements, collegiality, etc.
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Umcs
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Username: Umcs

Post Number: 353
Registered: 06-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 2:40 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Call your local bar association and find out when the next Young Lawyers Section meeting is. Go to it if you can.

Keep in mind that all of those questions will vary by practice groups within the firms as well.
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Dabirch
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Username: Dabirch

Post Number: 2453
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:09 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There is no quality of life.

Expect to bill 2500+ hours in years 1-3.
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Sparty06
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Username: Sparty06

Post Number: 33
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:13 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

2500? Aren't most of the expectations around 1950?
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Dabirch
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Username: Dabirch

Post Number: 2454
Registered: 06-2004
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:18 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

There is a difference between "expectations" and "i want to be considered for partner track at some point".

2,500 includes soft billables, pro bono, firm stuff.

Its really only 50 for 50 weeks. 7:30 to 7:30 with an hour lunch and an hour on non-billable.

You can bill 1,950 and not get fired. But you will be at the very bottom of your class.
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Sparty06
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Username: Sparty06

Post Number: 34
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:36 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Is this true for all of the larger firms in Detroit across the board or do certain firms have higher/lower billable expectations than others?
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Higgs1634
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Username: Higgs1634

Post Number: 212
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 3:37 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

check NALP.org. most of the big firms will have their info compiled there. Salaries, billables...etc. Gotta agree with Dabirch, you're looking at 2k-ish billable (40-ish hours a week)...meaning a lot more "real" hours to get that, as noted. You'll be well paid for it and some people thrive in that environment.

But, before you even get to that stage, if you're not top 5-10% in your class you probably won't get hired in. There are exceptions, of course, but it's a buyer's market.
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Sparty06
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Username: Sparty06

Post Number: 35
Registered: 03-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 8:49 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I was just thinking someone in the legal community here might have some inside information that isn't found on the standard forms/NALP.
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Umcs
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Username: Umcs

Post Number: 355
Registered: 06-2007
Posted on Wednesday, October 31, 2007 - 9:02 pm:   Edit PostDelete Post   Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Sparty,

The information you're receiving is a general answer to your original general question. Are you interviewing with any of the "Biglaw" firms in Detroit? If you have questions about specific firms and their nuances, that certainly would allow the forum members who have an involvement in the metro legal community to provide more specific information.

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