Huge billing rate increases have helped law firms absorb hits to productivity and keep layoffs mostly underfoot so far this year. But they’ve also drawn strong reactions from clients, say in-house lawyers and consultants, with some describing the latest hikes as “mind-boggling.”
However, there’s fresh optimism that innovation, not only on pricing plans but because of AI-related spending and projects, can ultimately tame what one consultant called “the cost monster.”
