Anyone who has spent time in the legal industry, particularly in the business of law, has heard repeated predictions about the demise of the billable hour and the belief that billing in six-minute increments is no longer sustainable.

As an Alternative Legal Services Provider (ALSP), Solvaire Technologies brings decades of experience structuring client engagements with creativity, transparency, and flexibility, including a long-standing use of fixed fees and alternative fee arrangements (AFAs). Our clients value the transparency and increased visibility into the work we deliver.

A recent The American Lawyer magazine article echoes this sentiment, suggesting that 2026 may finally be the year the legal industry becomes more open to alternative billing arrangements. The anticipated shift toward AFAs over hourly billing is likely driven by efficiencies created by artificial intelligence in client matters.

While adopting new technology, particularly generative AI tools, can accelerate administrative workflows and automate timekeeping processes, understanding overall cost and return on investment continues to evolve. Moving to an AFA structure, or at least offering alternatives to traditional billable hours, is one immediate way to pass these efficiencies on to clients.

Article Link: https://lnkd.in/gCe5K8Fg