Law 360 is reporting that Patton Boggs will award bonuses of $5,000 to $45,000 to associates who exceed their billable hour goals, but will reduce salaries for associates who have not met their targets.
Efficiency? Who cares. Results? Not on the radar. Profitability of work? Only for the faint of heart. But hours, dammit, we will pay in the extreme. Work more and retire your law school debt.
What kind of a message is this? What behavior does Patton Boggs expect to see as a result? It is as certain as the sun rising in the east that regardless of improvement in the economy, the associates of Patton Boggs will hear this message loud and clear and work more hours next year.
If I were a client of Patton Boggs, I would watch my wallet very closely.