LOS ANGELES, CA – April 4, 2025 – Michael Alfera, an associate attorney at Weinberg Gonser LLP, delivered a thought-provoking presentation at the TEDxSouthwestern event at Southwestern Law School, challenging conventional notions of legal value and urging the profession to rethink its reliance on the billable hour. 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 embrace alternatives legacy system. 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. 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. By thoughtfully integrating emerging technologies, including AI, we’re able to deliver legal services with greater speed, accuracy, and value. This also opens the door to alternative fee structures that better reflect each client’s goals and the realities of running a modern business.
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 should enhance, 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.