A quick way to distinguish yourself from the pack is to be a lawyer who offers is familiar with alternative fees. There is mounting pressure from clients – led by the American Corporate Counsel Association – to get law firms off the billable hour, and it’s an opportunity for young lawyers.

Particularly during challenging times, clients want to pay for results, not time. They want predictable fees, not surprises. This has never been more important than today, when every dollar counts, and requires justification.

A distinct advantage to lawyers offering alternative fees is the elimination of increasing overhead devoted to the billing process, clients flyspecking bills and demanding after-the-fact discounts, and delays in payments and falling realization rates.