AI’s Role in Competence and Fees: Ethical Strategies for the Lawyer of the Future

Mathew Kerbis | Subscription Attorney LLC

Mathew Kerbis is The Subscription Attorney. He’s on a mission to affordably serve clients at scale via the subscription model and inspire attorneys to abandon the billable hour. He founded the law firm Subscription Attorney LLC after working for private practice law firms for nine years. His firm leverages automations and artificial intelligence to offer more accessible and reasonable prices like legal advice starting at $19.99/month and $49.99/page. Kerbis realized the subscription model could revolutionize the legal profession, so he launched the podcast Law Subscribed to help attorneys make the same choice. He also speaks and writes about how generative artificial intelligence is changing the way law is practiced. Kerbis has presented at ABA TECHSHOW, Stanford’s CodeX online community, several other online publications, and as a guest lecturer for law schools.

Kerbis is a James I. Keane Award winner, recognizing innovative virtual law firms that serve the broad middle class, because he “has been a leader in using technology and subscription-based pricing models to improve access to justice.” He’s been recognized by the American Bar Association as a Top 40 “On the Rise” leading lawyer in the Innovation category for “his commitment to making legal services more accessible while maintaining profitability.” Kerbis is a member of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System’s Above the Line Network for legal professionals committed to transforming the delivery of legal services for the underserved middle class. He placed third in the Individual category for the American Legal Technology Awards for those who make a positive difference in the world related to legal innovation.

Kerbis often presents on the topic of ditching the billable hour for the subscription model using technology. His four CLE courses on Lawline have over 2,500 views averaging 4.9 out of 5 stars, with reviews like, “I like the idea [of] an alternative way for clients to afford lawyer services. I loved his enthusiasm and passion. I think he is onto something great for clients” and “Perhaps the most useful CLE I have ever taken.”

Kerbis was an American Bar Association leader for over twelve years, where he chaired boards, advocated for legal education reform, interviewed ABA Presidents and State Appellate and Supreme Court Justices, and lobbied Congress. He volunteers on other legal community advisory committees and as a board member of local community organizations. As a law student, Kerbis externed for the Honorable Justice Robert E. Gordon of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District.

Kerbis is a frequent public speaker, and the best place to connect with him is on LinkedIn.

I. Ethical Obligations in Technology Competence and Fee Arrangements | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. Legal-Specific AI Tools vs. General-Purpose AI: Ensuring confidentiality and reliability | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. Transitioning to Subscription-Based Billing Models | 2:10pm – 2:25pm

IV. Leveraging AI to Enhance Legal Services and Access to Justice | 2:25pm – 2:40pm