When trying to get ahead of the pack, Am Law firms tend to look to one another for benchmarks. A current line of demarcation for firms pursuing the “innovative” label has emerged in the in-house development of client-facing technologies. But what about the widely accepted quantifying factor of success, the billable hour?

From the vantage point of Jackson Lewis, the impact of client-facing technologies on the billable hour has yet to be determined, but while clients expect technology, they're “just not plain ready yet to talk to a robot to make a decision,” said the firm's digital officer, Victor Barkalov.

Jackson Lewis, however, is betting that clients will look toward technology to handle compliance. In its first step with client-facing technology, the firm announced on Tuesday the beta launch of its online tool suite for workplace laws and regulations, workthruIT. Designed with 16 tools for in-house counsel, human resources professionals and employers, the suite is available to select clients and allows them to obtain and research information around workplace decisions, then bring their findings to an attorney for advising.