Time-Strategy Or Stamina?

The December 20th, 2014 issue of The Economist featured a thoughtful article on "Why is Everyone So Busy?" Yet the article was frustrating because it did not offer solutions as such. I expect that work/life balance choices will be less frequent than ever, especially for those who choose to practice law in-house and in law firms. There is no real choice.

"Once hours are financially quantified, people worry more about wasting, saving or using them profitably." University of Toronto researchers found those who are paid by the hour tend to feel more "antsy" when they are not working. While lawyers are not paid by the hour, they bill by the hour and total billings affect compensation. The hourly billing culture certainly affects how in-house counsel think of their own time value—most have spent a few years in private practice.