Professor Gillers says: 'I’m not saying that pay shouldn’t turn on hours, but bonuses should turn on value of which hours are just part.' He went on to give an example: 'Unless the firm makes exceptions, an associate who bills 2,000 hours, but whose creativity substantially enhances the value of the firm’s work and whose efficiency keeps costs low for clients, will get less than a plodder who bills 2,400 hours but whose work is ordinary … it sends all the wrong messages about work/life balance.'

Efficiency undermined

He describes the system as a 'sin' because of the way it discourages associates from a life outside the office and because of the feedthrough to prioritise time over creativity and efficiency. Source: Bloomberg Business of Law