Moving Beyond the Billable Hour: Pricing Legal Work in the AI Age (Emily Logan Stedman - Husch Blackwell)

Emily Logan Stedman, commercial litigator at Husch Blackwell, discusses moving beyond the billable hour not just to modernize legal billing but to also prioritize lawyer well-being. The conversation explores the practical steps required to transition traditional litigation models toward Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs). Emily details her methodical approach to utilizing secure legal AI tools to analyze historical time entries, allowing her to offer phased flat fees, strategic counsel subscriptions, and predictable contract review pricing. The discussion also covers strategies for maintaining mental health in demanding legal environments, taking control of chaotic schedules, and reframing the billable hour as a tool for career management rather than a burden.

Things We Talk About in this Episode

• Emily’s transition from bankruptcy law to general commercial litigation after moving to Wisconsin.

• The motivation behind launching The Grace Period podcast and advocating for lawyer well-being in big law.

• Strategies for managing the billable hour, shifting daily mindsets, and setting strict boundaries for deep work.

• The genesis of applying Alternative Fee Arrangements (AFAs) to unpredictable, complex litigation matters.

• Structuring strategic counsel subscriptions and granular phased flat fees to provide cost predictability for corporate clients.

• Utilizing AI to analyze historical billing data and build accurate, profitable flat-fee pricing models that secure firm buy-in.

• Leveraging secure legal AI agents like Legora and Prompt Composer to map out discrete litigation phases and draft modern engagement letters.

Episode Credits

Editing and Production: Grant Blackstock

Theme Music: Home Base (Instrumental Version) by TA2MI