Billable hours to increase, salaries to soar at HWL Ebsworth

Following years of having one of the lowest billable hours across the industry, HWL Ebsworth has increased its quota...

19 May 2025

By Naomi Neilson

The billable hour’s enduring value in the age of AI

New technologies can and will force changes to practice methodologies, but – for some lawyers and firms – the...

08 April 2025

By Jerome Doraisamy

Maurice Blackburn’s fight with employees over pay ramps up

Unionised lawyers and staff at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers will engage in industrial action, setting the stage for a...

05 March 2025

By Jerome Doraisamy

‘Natural to expect’ firm costs will reflect AI-inspired efficiency

Not only should the increasing use of artificial intelligence by external providers have a flow-on effect on charge-out...

21 January 2025

By Jerome Doraisamy

The billable hour may be incompatible with GenAI innovation

In the face of client perceptions about their providers’ use or otherwise of generative AI, we may soon see more...

29 October 2024

By Jerome Doraisamy

Fixed fee, alternate pricing arrangements increasingly offered by firms

The number of Australian law firms providing fixed fee and alternate pricing arrangements continues to grow, according...

30 September 2024

By Jerome Doraisamy

Lawyers doing more pro bono hours than ever, but large firms, in-house teams must improve

There was an 11.5 per cent increase in total hours of pro bono work undertaken by Australian lawyers in FY2023–24;...

19 September 2024

By Jerome Doraisamy

Jagot J: ‘Work hours matter’ in addressing burnout

High Court Justice Jayne Jagot says a “critical look” at the culture of legal workplaces is paramount if the...

23 October 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

A young lawyer’s case for scrapping the billable hour

The billable hour has had its time in the sun, and it’s cast a dark shadow that we can no longer ignore, writes...

07 September 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

Is the billable hour incompatible with DEI?

With many BigLaw firms placing diversity, equity and inclusion at the top of their priority lists, a significant number...

06 July 2023

By Lauren Croft

ChatGPT’s rise means billable hours will ‘inevitably decline’

The time-based billing model has come under significant scrutiny in recent years, and now, with the emergence of...

20 February 2023

By Jerome Doraisamy

Billable hour works against women, lawyer argues

The billable hour fosters a culture of presenteeism and inherently discriminates against female lawyers who go on...

31 October 2022

By Malavika Santhebennur

Partners billing more post-pandemic

New research shows that not only are law firm partners bearing a markedly greater load in billable hours, but their job...

06 September 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

Values, not the ‘relentless pursuit’ of billables, produce optimal outcomes

According to this chair of partners, short-term thinking on what will produce the best results will ultimately benefit...

14 June 2022

By Jerome Doraisamy

LW500 From the vault: Young lawyers revolt -- 2,420 billable hours 'dehumanising'

15 November 2002: Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance sent a scathing memo to their partners in response to their last...

04 March 2012

Promoted by Priya Murthy