In large law firms, the measure of one’s worth can often boil down to a single figure: hours billed. This may seem harsh, but in many firms, this rings true.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a Republican-led spending bill Friday hours before a government shutdown, overcoming sharp Democratic opposition to the measure and sending it to President ...

Billable hours became the yardstick against which all else was measured, underpinning evaluations, promotions, and, ultimately, the perceived value of a lawyer to the firm.