Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the Firm’s billable hour requirements?
A: Attorneys have an annual standard of 1800 billable hours on client matters.
Q: Is pro bono work valued by the Firm?
A: Our firm is deeply committed to providing pro bono service in our community. We encourage all of our attorneys to render a minimum of 50 hours a year of pro bono service, and this time is treated as billable time. Additional time beyond the 50 hours may be treated as billable with the approval of the attorney’s Practice Group Leader.
Q: Is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work valued by the Firm?
A: The Firm is also committed to DEI. We strongly encourage each of our attorneys and employees to engage in the many inclusion and equity programs offered by the Firm and available in the community. Recognizing this commitment of time and effort required to work toward our inclusion and equity goals, we permit attorneys to receive billable hour credit for up to 10 hours of qualifying inclusion and equity activities to be applied to their 50-hour pro bono expectation.
Q: Does the firm support alternative work arrangements?
A: The quality of our lives both inside and outside the firm matters to us. The firm provides for alternative work arrangements, including part-time and flex-time arrangements in specific instances. Most attorneys working an alternative work arrangement previously worked a full-time schedule. Requests for alternative work arrangements are decided on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the needs of the attorney and the practice group.
Q: What is the firm’s partnership track?
A: Harter Secrest & Emery has a single-tier partnership model, and we regularly make new Partners from among our Senior Associates. A first-year Partner is an equity partner from day one. There is no rigid timetable for individual partnership decisions, but historically, the partnership track is approximately 9-10 years. We make every effort to keep each Senior Associate apprised of their progress towards partnership.