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Time vs. Value: Rethinking the Billable Hour in the Age of AI

February 19, 2026 Joe Stephens

Legal AI Attorney Resources Case Management & Workflow

In this session, attorney and law professor Joe Stephens explores the balance between time-based billing and value-driven work in an increasingly AI-powered industry. Drawing from the latest legal insights and examples, Joe cuts through the noise to examine what's actually happening, what's likely coming, and how attorneys can prepare.

What you'll discover:

The Billing Standoff: Why clients and firms are each waiting for the other to move first, and what that means for you
What's Actually Working: Alternative fee arrangements gaining traction beyond the billable hour
The Ethics Question: What ABA guidance means for attorneys who benefit from AI efficiencies
Practical Positioning: How forward-thinking attorneys are preparing now

Watch the recording for an honest conversation about how AI is forcing the legal industry to reexamine the billable hour. Whether it evolves or endures, the attorneys paying attention now will be ready for what's next.

About the Contributor

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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