Many of the shortcomings of hourly billing appear right on the invoices themselves! Rather than despair, however, the author has derived a certain entertainment from the review process, roughly akin to playing the game Whack-a-Mole.
How many times have you reviewed outside counsel invoices in shock at just how much two firm lawyers can cost? Do you find yourself wondering, 'Why do things have to be this way, and can I do anything else to lower the bills?' In the first installment of this three-part series, the author examines what it is about law firm organization and culture that truly drives up costs, and lays the foundation for the tools to revamp your relationship with your outside counsel that are discussed in parts two and three.