The Business of Law – Marketing and Business for Enterprising Attorneys

To put this blog post together, I read some material, thought about my reaction to it, sat down and spent some time writing down my point of view.  I edited it, and asked my assistant to proofread it for me, then I sent it out the door (or in this case, posted it).

All told, that whole process took me about an hour plus maybe fifteen minutes by my secretary for proofing and editing.

If I were a lawyer at a big firm, this blog post would have cost my client as much as $400.  That’s a little crazy and I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Paul Lippe the founder of Legal OnRamp writing at Am Law Daily enthusiastically endorses the death of the billable hour.  Referencing a recent Wall Street Journal story (subscription required) about the number of clients who are starting to demand fee for service contracts.

Lippe is a smart guy, and he offers  a nice “on the one hand, on the other” analysis while ultimately deciding that the death of the billable hour will likely lead to an increase in value for the firm and the client.

I’m a little more harsh.  I’ll say that the death of the billable hour for lawyers is long overdue and totally obvious.  The billable hour is a disservice to lawyers, clients and the interest of justice.

(continue reading…)