The AI Fee Fairness Calculator
See how AI efficiency changes the economics of a matter under hourly and flat fees, and where pricing may need to change to stay reasonable.
The economics
Educational tool, not legal advice. Outputs are starting points and must be reviewed by a qualified professional before use. Rules vary by jurisdiction and change often.
Can I bill a client for the time AI saved me?
Not on an hourly matter. ABA Formal Opinion 512 indicates that lawyers billing hourly must bill for their actual time. Time genuinely spent prompting, reviewing and verifying is billable work; time not spent is not.
Can I keep a flat fee if AI makes the work faster?
Opinion 512 indicates that a flat fee may become unreasonable if AI allows the work to be completed far more quickly than anticipated, because fees must remain reasonable under Rule 1.5. Value-based pricing should reflect value to the client, not a hidden time windfall.
Can I charge clients for AI subscriptions?
Opinion 512 indicates that general-purpose tools embedded in a firm’s software are overhead. Costs of third-party tools used for a specific client matter may be charged as expenses where reasonable and agreed in advance.