“Pumping hours at an unreasonable rate is not culturally, or from a business perspective, aligned with how we think in the long term.”

There is a mentality at most top-tier firms that long hours are "part of the job" and needed to meet client demand. But there has been push back from some employees.

Last year, Gilbert + Tobin was subject to a WorkSafe complaint alleging that some lawyers slept in the office 60 to 80 nights a year to meet work demands. A junior lawyer at King & Wood Mallesons also anonymously reported to the Victorian workplace safety regulator that the firm was over-working staff during the Hayne royal commission.

The shorter working day is reflected in billing targets. HWL's mark is 3.5 hours per day for graduates against seven hours at Gilbert + Tobin.

Focus on retention

HWL 2018 graduate Taylor Burt, who now works in the firm’s employment team, said she usually worked from 8.30am to 6pm and felt the firm had a “real commitment to work/life balance”.

Long hours are cited as a big reason why so many lawyers leave the profession.


The Australian Financial Review this year surveyed 34 lawyers from top-tier firms in the first three years of their career, which revealed that many resigned after two or three years because they felt they were being exploited by their firm.

Retention is a key goal for Mr Martinez and he thinks reasonable hours are a part of that. Of the firm's 66 graduates in 2018, seven have left – four departures were at the firm’s instigation.

Despite its size, the nature of HWL's work means it is still regarded as mid-tier practice. The Law Society of NSW puts graduate salaries at such firms in the $60,000 to $65,000 range, around $20,000 below the top commercial firms.

Ms Burt said the toss-up between pay and hours was “really about what you value”. “Work-life balance is such an important thing.”

The corporate perks at top-tiers also add appeal, whereas HWL's frugality is well known. There are rumours that those working late are not offered dinner or taxis home – as is standard – and that colour printing requires partner approval.

Mr Martinez says he wants his lawyers gone from the office before dinner. And the colour printing?

“You don’t need it for one colour band [across] a page. And double-sided is cheaper too, not to mention the environmental considerations … it’s unfair to make the client pay for that,” said Mr Martinez.