What about those grand legal fees?

Is it time for the "billable hour" legal fee to actually disappear?
Scott Turrow says yes.

In his article, "The Billable Hour Must Die," in the August 2007 edition of the ABA Journal, Turow postulates that the billable hour "[r]ewards inefficiency. It makes clients suspicious. And it may be unethical."

The billable hour certainly does not apply in solo practice. At least it does not apply to solo practitioners as much as the billable hour applies in BigLaw. (My opinion, here.)

On the other hand, this author prefers the recent article by Nathanial Koppel that appeared on the front page of the Marketplace section of the Wall Street Journal :
"Lawyers Gear Up Grand New Fees: Hourly Rates Increasingly Hit $1,000, Breaching a Level Once Seen as Taboo."

Interesting psychology, as claimed, in keeping the fee under four digits. An anonymous partner in a New York firm tells why: "We have viewed $1,000 an hour as a possible vomit point for clients."

Pretty graphic reasoning, wouldn't you agree?
How does that stack up with the pro-bono hours that we report each year?
Pity the client who sees that billing statement.
And pity the poor fool who has to collect! Ha, ha, ha.