Billable Hours Higher, Satisfaction Lower for 3rd, 4th and 5th Year Associates

Billable hours have risen and satisfaction has dropped for third, fourth and fifth year associates according to Victor Li, AmericanLawyer.com in "Under Pressure: Welcome to the postrecession world. Demand for legal services is up-- associates billed an extra 80 hours last year-- but hiring is slow. One small consolation: Salaries are at their highest level in five years. Phew," (as cited by Debra Cassens Weiss, abajournal.com in "Billable Hours Rise and Midlevel Associate Satisfaction Drops").