- Home
- Personal Finance
The article about lawyers billing clients for hours of work that AI did in seconds generated quite a response. One law firm even called a staff meeting to say that they're exploring how to address the issue. The other angle of the article — lawyers' unreasonable workloads — also received some impactful responses.
By
H. Dennis Beaver, Esq.
published
27 January 2026
in Features
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Share Share by:- Copy link
- X
Talk about putting useful information to work — our January 13 article, Billed 12 Hours for a Few Seconds of Work: How AI Is Helping Law Firms Overcharge Clients, riled up several readers.
The article notes that some law firms are using AI to produce — in seconds — documents that would normally take hours to draft. Yet, they're billing for those hours as if the work had been done the old way.
This lit a spark under many who read the story and had "are you kidding me?" discussions with their lawyers.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Sign upDon't be afraid to bring it up
Beyond saying, "I think you owe me a refund," many readers reported that they went a step further. Not wanting to be dismissed with, "That's our bill — pay it," they researched their state's bar regulations on charging for work that was actually performed — the time that was, in fact, spent on the task.
About Adviser Intel
The author of this article is a participant in Kiplinger's Adviser Intel program, a curated network of trusted financial professionals who share expert insights on wealth building and preservation. Contributors, including fiduciary financial planners, wealth managers, CEOs and attorneys, provide actionable advice about retirement planning, estate planning, tax strategies and more. Experts are invited to contribute and do not pay to be included, so you can trust their advice is honest and valuable.
"Ben," in Cleveland, wrote, "I found a shopping list of violations that could jeopardize her license to practice law. I don't want to be accused of extortion or blackmail. I want to say, 'AI was used, yet I was billed as if you had done the work yourself. I expect a refund for the unearned hours. You know the consequences if I file a complaint with the bar.'
"What if she replies, 'Don't threaten to complain to the bar, because that is blackmail, and you'll find yourself in trouble."
Ben absolutely can say that. Filing a complaint with his state's bar would not be extortion, as there is a legitimate reason. I suggested this direct, yet more diplomatic, approach:
As AI was used to generate the material, all I am asking is for a refund of what I was overcharged and nothing more. I am prepared to file that complaint, but that is not what I want to do.
Lawyers comment on 2,000-hour billing requirement
Our story also cited the destructive, inhumane, fraud-creating requirement for attorneys to bill 2,000-plus hours yearly to keep their job, which translates into expecting high-quality legal work to be produced 12 hours a day.
"Utterly impossible," according to Dr. Luis Vega, professor of Psychology at California State University, Bakersfield. "This completely unreasonable and unachievable hour total finds decent people caught in a web of corporate greed.
"While there is individual variation, on average, four hours of intense focus is typically the most one can expect per day. It is called the Four-Hour Rule of Productivity."
The responses to this issue, from attorneys in the U.S. and Canada, were touching.
From midsize to Big Law firms, lawyers phoned my office after 3 p.m. Pacific Time, which made it 6 p.m. on the East Coast, when most support staff had left for the day. (I ran phone numbers through a reverse look-up service to verify their origin, often seeing a photo and description on their firm's web page.)
I listened as young lawyers poured out their hearts to me, some who had read this column throughout law school.
YouTube helps some lawyers cheat
I spoke with "Claudia," "Rex" and "Tim" in New York, who teamed up on speakerphone. Claudia said, "When you used the term 'sweatshop,' that describes our job environment perfectly."
Rex added, "This place is just plain toxic. When we were in law school and attended the firm's summer camp, it was all fun, but no one ever told us that, when hired, we would become slaves to the billable hour."
Claudia chimed back in with, "You can't fulfill a 2,000-hour yearly billing goal honestly. It is impossible. But YouTube billing tutorials by other lawyers showed us how to bill creatively — in other words, commit billing fraud!"
She directed me to a YouTube video where an attorney suggested billing whatever time is spent thinking about a client's case — while taking a shower, driving to work, even sleeping.
"So," Claudia continued, "when you wrote that the pressure and insane time demands destroy families and lead to divorce, burnout, depression and substance abuse, you have described most lawyers here — some are on their second marriage, at least."
Tim observed, "Many attorneys who have been here for several years virtually have 'I hate this place' stamped on their foreheads. I do not know a single colleague who can claim being happy to come to work, despite the money."
Looking for expert tips to grow and preserve your wealth? Sign up for Adviser Intel, our free, twice-weekly newsletter.
He added, "Not in our pre-law university classes nor law school was any of this reality ever discussed. I am looking for a job with the county or city because I do not want to become a statistic. I want a normal life, dinner with my family, taking our kids out for a trip to the park. I want to be a real husband and father, not someone who is married to the firm!"
A promise of change
One Kansas City, Kansas, law firm was different, though.
"Mr. Beaver," "Monique" said, "your column is very popular here and is frequently discussed in office meetings. So when your AI story ran, there was quite a buzz!
"One of the partners called for a meeting and said, 'We should send Mr. Beaver a box of Kansas City steaks. His AI story brought out into the open something we have all been aware of and, I'm sure, bothered by.
"'Just so everyone knows, management gets it. We have been exploring old-fashioned ways to bill for services, just like Beaver referenced in his article. Please give us some time. Please trust us to make things better.'"
Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, Calif., and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to [email protected]. And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com.
Related Content
- Beyond the Bar: Your 5-Step Guide to Discovering Whether a Lawyer Is Shady
- Five Things to Notice in Your Lawyer’s Bill
- Deadbeat Lawyer Trying to Rip Off Doctor Gets Busted
- Seven Ways to Be an Absolute Jerk as a Lawyer
- One Cure for Legal Headaches: The Advice of Outside Counsel
This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.
TOPICS Adviser Intel AI Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — freeContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
H. Dennis Beaver, Esq.Attorney at Law, Author of "You and the Law"After attending Loyola University School of Law, H. Dennis Beaver joined California's Kern County District Attorney's Office, where he established a Consumer Fraud section. He is in the general practice of law and writes a syndicated newspaper column, "You and the Law." Through his column, he offers readers in need of down-to-earth advice his help free of charge. "I know it sounds corny, but I just love to be able to use my education and experience to help, simply to help. When a reader contacts me, it is a gift."
Latest-
Why You Can Afford to Ignore College Sticker Prices
College tuition fees can seem prohibitive, but don't let advertised prices stop you from applying. Instead, focus on net costs after grants and scholarships.
-
S&P 500 Tops 7,000, Fed Pauses Rate Cuts: Stock Market Today
Investors, traders and speculators will probably have to wait until after Jerome Powell steps down for the next Fed rate cut.
-
The Met Opera May Sell Its Iconic Paintings. Is it a Good Investment?
Buying the Marc Chagall murals would come with a big stipulation attached.
-
Here's Why You Can Afford to Ignore College Sticker Prices
College tuition fees can seem prohibitive, but don't let advertised prices stop you from applying. Instead, focus on net costs after grants and scholarships.
-
S&P 500 Tops 7,000, Fed Pauses Rate Cuts: Stock Market Today
Investors, traders and speculators will probably have to wait until after Jerome Powell steps down for the next Fed rate cut.
-
The Met Opera May Sell Its Iconic Paintings. Is it a Good Investment?
Buying the Marc Chagall murals would come with a big stipulation attached.
-
Do You Really Need All Those Phone Plan Perks?
Unlimited data plans now come bundled with streaming, travel perks and device deals — but many people pay for extras they rarely use.
-
We Retired at 70 With $4.3 Million. My Wife Won't Spend 'Our Grandkids' Inheritance,' but I Want to Travel.
I want to travel while we are still healthy, but my wife wants to pass down our wealth. Who is right?
-
Today's Senior Living Communities Are Not Your Grandma's 'Old Folks' Home': An Expert Guide to Shopping for the Right Fit
Senior living facilities have improved and are as diverse as the people who inhabit them. Now, they're more than just a place to go — they're a place to grow.
-
3 Common Misconceptions About Working With a Financial Planner
Think financial planners are only for the wealthy and that AI can replace human advice? Nope. Even people with moderate wealth need professional advice.
-
Should You Consider Investing in the Quantum Computing Sector? This Investment Adviser Has Some Suggestions
Investors interested in quantum computing could consider ETFs focused on cloud services enabling small businesses to use big technology.
