A curious irony in the current discussion of the billable hour is that the popularity and widespread use of the hourly fee arrangement arose from increased client demand. Clients saw clarity, certainty and objectivity in the hourly rate. They also saw a description of the specific services they were paying for, as opposed to the one-line statement: “For services rendered: $50,000.”

The billable hour, over time, has served both clients and law firms alike, and in a great many diverse matters will continue to do so. Billing by the hour is transparent, and firms interested in maintaining or establishing a long-term relationship will not overcharge their clients.

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