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Writer's pictureRashanda Michelle Mc Kenna

Ticking Differently: The Disruption of Billable Hours by Legal Technology

Updated: Nov 19, 2023

Explore the transformative shift in the legal world where technology is changing the traditional billable hour model. This movement is boosting efficiency, creating new pricing methods, and making legal help more accessible. Get insights into the advanced tech tools that are driving this evolution, leading to a more streamlined, effective, and client-focused approach in law. This isn't just a passing trend; it's a significant shift that's reshaping the legal field. Welcome to Law 2.0, where innovation is essential and at the heart of the new legal era.

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Billable Hours or Legal Tech

Billable hours, the traditional lifeline for law firms, are now being closely examined. Clients and industry insiders alike are rallying against the time-centric pricing model and shifting focus towards end results rather than hours logged. This sea change signals a need for law firms to consider alternative fee arrangements.

However, recent years have witnessed a rising tide of opposition against this traditional system. From clients to industry insiders, the voice of discontent is growing louder.

Especially with the advent of an increasingly cost-conscious clientele, the focus has pivoted towards the final results rather than the hours invested into cases or transactions. Consequently, there's a compelling case for law firms to consider alternative fee arrangements.

A study titled 'Law firms' leading barriers to AFAs worldwide 2018', published by the Statista Research Department on July 6, 2022, throws light on the hurdles faced by law firms in adopting alternative fee arrangements. Remarkably, a majority of respondents, around 63 percent, identified determining accurate or profitable pricing as a significant barrier.


Significant disadvantages associated with the billable hours system could serve as a catalyst for lawyers and law firms to consider alternative fee arrangements. The billable hour model bears several drawbacks that could potentially trigger a shift towards alternative fee arrangements. These include:

  1. Inefficient Time Management: The hourly billing system often encourages inefficient use of time. Since attorneys are incentivized to spend more hours on tasks, there may be a tendency to overextend tasks or not seek out more efficient methods of working.

  2. Uncertain Costs: It can be difficult for clients to anticipate the final cost when the pricing is based on billable hours. This uncertainty may lead to dissatisfaction and strain the attorney-client relationship.

  3. Discourages Innovation: Since the hourly billing model rewards time spent rather than results achieved, it can discourage the adoption of innovative technologies or processes that could streamline work and save time.

  4. Creates Stress for Lawyers: The constant pressure to meet billable hours targets can create a high-stress environment for lawyers. This could potentially lead to burnout and affect their overall performance and well-being.

  5. Focus Shifts from Quality to Quantity: With an emphasis on the number of hours billed, the quality of work might sometimes take a backseat. The focus becomes more about billing more hours rather than delivering the best possible outcome for the client.

  6. Lack of Client Trust: When clients can't directly correlate the effort spent with the outcome achieved, it might breed mistrust. Clients may question the time spent on a task, especially if the outcome doesn't meet their expectations, which can lead to disputes over fees.

  7. Pricing Risk Lies With The Clients: Pricing risk in the billable hours system places an undue burden on clients, as they must commit to an unknown final cost. This uncertainty can lead to stress, a subpar client experience, and potentially deter clients from seeking needed legal services.

But here's the twist: if technology can turn a 10-hour task into a 1-hour job, it revolutionizes the firm's operations and client relations:

  1. The first way is by promoting Cost-Effectiveness: By significantly reducing the time it takes to complete certain tasks, technology can effectively decrease costs for clients in law firms operating under an hourly billing model. Tasks that once took 10 hours, if completed in 1 hour with the assistance of technology, would reduce the client's billed time by 90%. This makes legal services more affordable, thereby broadening access to justice. Furthermore, cost savings could potentially be passed onto the clients in the form of more competitive rates, further enhancing client satisfaction and loyalty.

  2. The efficiency introduced by technology enables law firms to complete tasks more swiftly, thereby increasing their capacity to handle more cases within the same timeframe. This boost in productivity not only allows for better time management but can also lead to increased revenue, especially when combined with alternative billing models. For instance, tasks previously billed at 10 hours can now be completed in 1 hour, freeing up 9 hours for other billable work. This higher turnover of cases can mean more clients served and potentially higher earnings, leading to an overall healthier and more robust practice.

  3. Improved Client Satisfaction: The efficiency and speed brought about by legal technology can greatly expedite the completion of tasks, leading to quicker results for clients. This faster service not only meets but often exceeds client expectations, resulting in higher levels of client satisfaction. Happy clients are more likely to return for future legal needs and are also more likely to refer the firm to others, thereby driving repeat business and new client acquisition through positive word-of-mouth. This client satisfaction is essential in maintaining a strong, positive reputation for the firm in the competitive legal market.

  4. Competitive Advantage: I cannot stress enough that implementing technology in law firm operations can serve as a differentiating factor, setting the firm apart from its competitors. With the increasing digitalization of society, tech-savvy clients are likely to be attracted to firms that use modern technology in their practice. Additionally, value-conscious clients might favor these technologically equipped firms because they often offer faster, more efficient services, and potentially more cost-effective solutions. Therefore, embracing technology can significantly enhance a firm's appeal and give it a competitive advantage in the increasingly digital legal marketplace.

  5. Reallocation of Resources: Legal technology, especially automation tools, can take over routine and repetitive tasks, freeing up lawyers to focus on more complex, high-value aspects of their cases. This shift in focus allows lawyers to utilize their unique skills and expertise to their full potential, leading to the delivery of higher-quality services. Moreover, it can increase job satisfaction among legal professionals as they can engage more deeply in challenging, meaningful work. This enhanced job satisfaction can also contribute to a more positive work environment and increased retention of talented professionals.

  6. More Predictable Pricing: The efficiency gains brought about by legal technology, combined with a faster turnaround time, can equip law firms with the ability to provide more accurate cost estimates. This precision can significantly minimize pricing risk for clients, making them more comfortable and confident in engaging legal services. Such predictability in pricing not only fosters transparency but also enhances trust between law firms and their clients. It can contribute to longer-term client relationships, as clients value the certainty and reliability in their legal costs.

The digital revolution is not just knocking on law firms' doors - it's walking right in.The integration of technology can have transformative effects on law firms, reshaping their business models, enhancing service delivery, and improving client relationships. The application of technology, thus, can dramatically overhaul law firms, improving service delivery, and client relations. Leading platforms include:

  • Disco E-discovery, which is an AI software solution that offers a cloud-based, easy-to-use interface for simplifying and accelerating the e-discovery process. It bridges the gap between technology and user, making complex e-discovery tasks accessible to users regardless of their tech proficiency. Alongside its core functionality, Disco E-discovery is complemented by a unique feature, an AI chatbot named Cecilia. Functioning as a sophisticated evidence finder, Cecilia can provide precise, citation-backed answers from the user's Disco E-discovery database. This integration of cloud-based software and AI-assisted document referencing can help legal professionals streamline their workflow and navigate the demanding landscape of e-discovery with increased confidence and efficiency.

  • E-Bravia Contract Analytics software is a tool that also stands out. It cleverly integrates natural language processing and machine learning to analyse contracts. Drawing from a vast repository of legal documents, E-Bravia can recognize language patterns and pinpoint key concepts within documents. This smart blending of technologies empowers E-Bravia to sift through thousands of contracts, providing comprehensive analysis and insights that drive better decision-making and mitigate contract risks.

  • Contract Works emerges as a formidable player in the contract management software arena, offering both scalability and simplicity. This legal tech solution gives users the reins to their contract lifecycles. From meticulously drafting impeccable agreements to maintaining complete visibility of contracts in play, Contract Works excels in versatility. It even has a keen eye for those easy-to-miss renewal dates, ensuring users stay on top of all contractual obligations and never miss an opportunity to renegotiate or renew. It's truly a comprehensive solution for legal professionals looking to streamline and enhance their contract management processes.

  • Adding to the repertoire of legal tech tools that help to reduce the billable hours is MyCase, which brings a revolutionary approach to case management. With its focus on optimising law firm operations, MyCase consolidates multiple critical components of a case—be it case details, documents, client communication, or billing—into one streamlined platform. This unified approach fundamentally enhances productivity by allowing legal professionals to manage their caseload effectively, reducing the hassle of switching between multiple systems or losing crucial information in the process. MyCase is a holistic tool aimed at modernising the way law firms operate and manage their cases.

  • Worthy of significant attention is Clio, a comprehensive case management software. It's more than a tool—it's a paradigm shift in the legal sector. Clio has a transformative impact on the legal experience for firms of all sizes, offering a holistic platform that takes care of every aspect of case management. With approval from more than 90 bar associations and law societies globally, Clio stands as a testament to innovative legal technology that resonates with professionals in the field, transcending boundaries and creating a seamless experience for legal practitioners worldwide.

The billable hour, despite being a long-standing norm, may be losing its crown to alternative fee arrangements, thanks to the drawbacks we've explored. Legal technology is not just a band-aid for these issues - it's a potential solution.


Legal technology's emergence as a potent force heralds a transformative era for law firms. By automating repetitive tasks, significantly reducing billing time, and fostering innovative billing models, it reshapes the legal landscape to be more efficient, precise, and client-centric.


The benefits of legal technology are manifold. It not only alleviates the constraints of traditional billable hours but also enables law firms to focus more on their core legal services. The time saved from automating routine tasks allows for more accurate and potentially reduced billing, making legal services more accessible and transparent for clients.


Moreover, the advent of alternative fee arrangements made possible by technology brings a welcome change. Be it fixed-fee, subscription, or outcome-based models, these new billing paradigms offer clients greater predictability and a more aligned sense of value. As we continue our journey into this dynamic frontier, our mission remains to keep you informed, engaged, and empowered in the ever-evolving world of legal tech.


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