LOS ANGELES, CA – Michael Alfera, an associate attorney at Weinberg Gonser LLP,
delivered a thought-provoking presentation at the TEDx Southwestern event at Southwestern
Law School, challenging conventional notions of legal value and urging the profession to rethink
its operations and value proposition. In his TED talk, “Beyond the Billable Hour: How Tech and
AI Are Transforming Legal Work,” Alfera outlined a vision for a legal industry that places
outcomes, efficiency, and client value at the forefront, enabled in large part by technological
innovation.
Alfera began by acknowledging the durability of the billable hour model. For firms, it offers
predictability and scalability; for clients, it provides a seemingly objective measure of work
performed. Yet, as he explained, this model has long masked deeper issues within the legal
profession. By tying value strictly to time, firms have often rewarded overwork rather than
innovation. The result has been a profession prone to burnout and resistant to structural change.
The core of Alfera’s message was that, when implemented responsibly, artificial intelligence
allows us to ensure greater value to clients, i.e., exceptional legal services and cost-effective
rates. By integrating emerging technologies, including AI, attorneys can deliver legal services
with greater speed, accuracy, and thus value. In doing so, we see the hourly billable model
continuing to be mutually beneficial, provided that firms meaningfully incorporate AI and other
legal tech to eliminate tedious manual tasks that could otherwise be automated, thereby
providing greater value to the client within those billed hours.
Drawing on examples from legal practice, including those of Weinberg Gonser, he illustrated
how AI is already being used to streamline repetitive work, enhance project management, and
generate pricing models based on real data rather than speculative estimates. Further, the tools
enable us to streamline document review processes, enhance legal research capabilities, analyze
complex data sets, and improve accuracy and completeness in drafting.
These developments, he explained, are not merely about cost savings; they represent a
fundamental shift in how legal services can be delivered and how value can be defined. What
makes this shift particularly consequential, Alfera noted, is its potential to realign the legal
profession with its highest ideals. With AI reducing the time attorneys must spend on
administrative or mechanical tasks, more energy can be devoted to strategic thinking, client
communication, and creative problem-solving. Moreover, technology can expand access to legal
knowledge, democratize expertise, and help reduce longstanding barriers to entry in the
profession—all of which contribute to a more just and inclusive legal system.
At Weinberg Gonser LLP, these ideas are more than just concepts; they’re an active part of how
we practice law every day. As trusted advisors, we understand that clients are looking for more
than just sound legal advice; they want practical, efficient, and business-minded solutions.
Michael Alfera’s appearance at TEDxSouthwestern highlights a broader conversation already
underway at our firm and in the profession more broadly. We believe that technology shouldenhance, not replace, legal judgment, and that the future of law lies not in faster billing, but in better service. As that future continues to unfold, we’re proud to be leading the charge toward a
more responsive, modern, and client-centered legal profession.