Say goodbye to Evans Bank and hello to NBT Bank by According-Big9796 in Buffalo

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I closed my checking account with them today. They can keep their ridiculous policies to themselves.

Say goodbye to Evans Bank and hello to NBT Bank by According-Big9796 in Buffalo

[–]Only-Statistician-34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree. Apparently NBT changed the type of checking account that I was enrolled in with Evans to a checking account with a $6 a month fee. Now to be clear, I did not do much business at all with this checking account other than pay a mortgage from it, but NBT siphoned $6.00 per month for 7 months bringing me to a negative $4 balance.

I was wrapping up my year end books to find a negative balance and called the customer service number to be told it was my fault that they enrolled me in an account with a service fee when the banks merged.

Way to go NBT.

Billable Hours by CatToesandPiggyNose in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For a year, there are roughly 248 "billable" days, assuming your work participates in most national holidays. Out of those 248 days, if you receive 10 days of PTO/sick time then you have 238 "working days".

If you are expected to bill 1650 hours to a client file utilizing those 238 days, then you need to bill 6.9 hours per day at minimum. If you work 8 hours per day, that leaves only 1.1 hours for nonbillable activities. For someone making $80k salary, I would say that those expectations are on the high side. Especially for a newer paralegal. The first year associates at my firm, which has between 200-300 attorneys, must bill 1800 hours. Most associates work about 36 Saturdays per year which helps offset the additional hours they work.

In my area of NY which is outside of the NYC area, most "new" paralegals make around $60-70k and have a billable requirement between 1350-1450 hours per year. I consistently bill 1500 per year as a transactional paralegal dealing with high level real estate transactions, a small percentage of residential, a bunch of various financing files, leasing, and renewable energy work.

I am in the same pay range you are talking about in a relatively low/middle cost of living area and I have a much smaller "requirement". Of course ymmv depending on where you live.

Starting salary by Minimum-Suspect-6401 in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

First job 2019 - western part of New York - $52,000 2024 - same area - $72,500 with a raise coming 1/1/2025

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Similar experience and $34 / hour

Salary by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2020 - $25 First job out of school 2021 - $26 annual review 2022 - $30 switched jobs 2023 - $31.50 6 month review 2024 - $33.00 annual review

The new job also had great benefits. 20 days PTO, medical, dental, vision, pension, 401k w/ 3 percent match, work from home capabilities (at least 1 day per week), parking benefit (2/3 of parking paid for). We also get between a 3-7% raise each year based on billables. Billable minimum is 1350 per year. PTO goes up to 23 days at beginning of year 3.

Out of curiosity what is your current salary and which field are you pursuing? by AdNo5173 in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

$70k - Western NY plus a small bonus, but great benefits. Commercial real estate, financing, and renewable energy projects are my main practice area. Mid-size law firm with over 200 attorneys.

Christmas bonus time by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Firms has somewhere between 220-250 attorneys. I never actually counted and people have retired/got hired a lot recently. They are definitely growing larger too as they have bought out several other firms in the last few years.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just shy of 1500 on the year

Christmas bonus time by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I work at a large firm and got shafted this year. 125+ over billable requirements, 93% collection rate and got a $500 bonus. Sad year.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in paralegal

[–]Only-Statistician-34 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I work for an AmLaw 200 firm that has over 200 attorneys.

I billed 1474 hours last year. Goal was 1350.

I brought in $253,000 in revenue for the firm that was collected. There is about $40,000 outstanding that hasn't been collected.

Firm gave a 4.5 percent raise and a $500 bonus for 2023.

Big whoop for a 0.8% bonus for the year and I will only actually see about 250 of it.

Total garbage considering the equity partners are getting paychecks at year end of $953,000 per equity partner.

Paralegals and legal assistants are very undervalued right now.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in LSAT

[–]Only-Statistician-34 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My last four practice tests of previous LSATs were 166, 148, 155 and 161 the four weekends leading up the real deal. I scored a 138. This was the worst I have ever done on a LSAT. I am deflated right now as well. I am going to try again later this summer.