How to Build a Law Practice That Doesn't Depend on Billable Hours ft. Steven J. Shanker, Esq.

November 5, 2026 Adrian Cea

Legal Industry Trends Attorney Resources

In the age of AI, firms built around billable hours need to have an uncomfortable conversation.

In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens sit down with Steven J. Shanker, Esq., Partner and Head of Corporate Law at Romano Law, to discuss why he believes AI could accelerate the end of hourly billing and what it takes to build a legal practice around judgment, efficiency, and ongoing client relationships instead.

What You'll Learn:

How Romano Law offers flat-fee alternatives for both discrete legal projects and ongoing counsel relationships
Why alternative fee arrangements can encourage clients to contact their lawyers before problems escalate
How to scope and price legal work without relying exclusively on hourly billing
Why efficient work habits matter even when a firm isn't billing by the hour
Why worker classification depends on the actual working relationship, not merely the contract's label
How direction and control can affect employee-versus-independent-contractor analysis
Why misclassification claims can expose employers to taxes, damages, penalties, and attorney-fee liability
Why Steven supports exploring an intermediate category for independent workers
How Steven mentors junior lawyers through practical experience, efficiency, and courtroom exposure

At the center of the episode lies a big prediction: lawyers who refuse to experiment with alternatives to hourly billing may discover that their clients are perfectly willing to find firms that will.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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