BigLaw Billable Hour Requirements by Firm
BigLaw Bear lists the billable hour target at 20 of 360 directory firms, highest first. The stated targets run from 1,850 to 2,000 hours a year. Firms that do not state one are left out, not counted as zero. Checked Oct 30, 2026.
| Firm | Am Law Rank | Billable Target | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidley Austin LLP | #6 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| White & Case LLP | #9 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Jones Day | #15 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Paul Hastings LLP | #22 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Holland & Knight LLP | #26 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Mayer Brown LLP | #27 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP | #38 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Reed Smith LLP | #40 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Alston & Bird LLP | #44 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP | #53 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP | #64 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP | #66 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Baker Botts L.L.P. | #75 | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Irell & Manella LLP | Not listed | 2,000 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C. | #37 | 1,950 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Duane Morris LLP | #84 | 1,950 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Latham & Watkins LLP | #2 | 1,900 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP | #19 | 1,900 hours | Source | Oct 30, 2026 |
| Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP | #56 | 1,900 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
| Venable LLP | #68 | 1,850 hours | Source | Sep 27, 2026 |
Figures are the Billable Target on each firm’s BigLaw Bear profile, with the same source. Firms differ on what counts toward the number and whether it is a target or a requirement, so read the firm’s own policy. See BigLaw billable hours explained and how bonuses work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the billable hour requirement at BigLaw firms?
20 of the 20 listed firms state a number. The median is 2,000 hours a year, and the stated figures run from 1,850 to 2,000.
How many firms state a 2,000 hour target?
14 of the 20 firms with a stated number say 2,000 hours. None states more.
Which BigLaw firms have the lowest billable hour target?
The lowest stated target is 1,850 hours, at Venable LLP.
Is a billable hour target the same as a requirement?
Not always. A firm may call it a target, a minimum or an expectation, and what counts toward it (pro bono, training, business development) is the firm's policy. Read the source and the firm's own policy before you compare two figures. BigLaw billable hours explained
Why is my firm not on the list?
We list 20 of 360 directory firms. The other 340 have no sourced figure on file, which does not mean the target is zero.
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