For more great articles and FREE attorney resources visit us: www.RainmakerLawyer.com
That line is a common expression used in consulting.
When we say “Don’t boil the ocean” we mean: “Only gather enough information necessary to solve the problem”.
This could also be translated into a simple concept: “Work as efficiently as possible.”
Unfortunately this is a phrase that most lawyers abhor.
In fact, for most lawyers, the compensation is rigged to make sure they boil the ocean. Hourly billing rewards time spent and not productivity. Hourly billing erodes trust. It puts the attorney’s goals at odds with the client’s goals. It devalues talent, skill and knowledge in favor of punching a time clock.
If you cannot think of an alternative to hourly billing you are not intelligent enough to be a licensed lawyer.
If you can think of an alternative to hourly billing and you choose not to offer it to your clients, you are unethical.
There are no other options.