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Many finance leaders agree. In Deloitte’s CFO Survey, 44% of CFOs said cutting costs and driving efficiencies in the finance function is a top priority—up six percentage points from last year, and 91% from 2021’s 23%.” That shift signals a broader emphasis on efficiency—not austerity.

Imagine a mid-sized professional firm experiencing a sudden spike in software subscription fees or delayed payments from a major client. Without spending visibility, leaders may not recognize those trends until the end of the quarter. With structured spend management, leaders get early-warning indicators and can course-correct before financial strain spreads.

That’s the power of structured spend management: it turns uncertainty into informed action and strengthens financial resilience one decision at a time.

The three pillars of spend management

Today’s firms can’t rely on reactive budgeting or surface-level cost analysis. They need a scalable strategy that connects spending decisions to long-term goals. That’s where business spend management comes in—it turns scattered transactions into meaningful financial insight.

At a high level, business spend management is how leaders gain organization-wide visibility and spend control over every type of expense. While expense management focuses on individual transactions, business spend management unifies financial data, enabling leaders to make informed decisions rooted in context rather than guesswork.

For most professional firms, this includes everything from operational and administrative expenses to project costs, vendor payments, recurring subscriptions, and related expenses.

Step 1. Visibility

Visibility gives leaders a clear view of where money is being allocated across the firm. It includes awareness of vendor payments, subscription renewals, project costs, reimbursements, and capital outlays—all in one place. When spending is visible, issues surface earlier, and trends become easier to interpret.

Step 2. Control

Control helps ensure every dollar aligns with firm policies, financial priorities, and compliance requirements. Tools like automated approvals, spending thresholds, and policy-based workflows help leaders guide behavior without slowing down day-to-day work.

Step 3. Optimization

Optimization goes beyond cutting costs. It helps leaders understand the best way to allocate resources, prioritize investments, and adjust budgets for stability and growth. With accurate data, firms can pursue smarter opportunities instead of reacting to surprises.

Together, these pillars connect the macro view of firm finances with the micro details of everyday transactions. While expense tracking handles the individual line items, business spend management pulls them into one forward-looking picture.

How business spend management builds financial resilience

Think of business spend management as more than a financial process—it’s a resilience engine. When spending data is easy to interpret and act on, firms can respond faster to market changes, prioritize essential spending, and stay ready for what’s next.

Here’s how visibility, predictability, and adaptability work together:

• Visibility helps firms see patterns early—from rising vendor costs to delays in client payments. With real-time views by spend category, leaders can identify inefficiencies before they escalate and make proactive choices grounded in clear information.

• Predictability happens when visibility becomes insight. With accurate data, firms can improve forecasting, plan for seasonal shifts, track revenue timing, and stay ahead of vendor price changes. 

• Adaptability is the result. The ability to act quickly and confidently as conditions change. With real-time insight, firms can adjust budgets, reallocate funds, or pause nonessential spending without stalling critical operations. This is particularly important in client-driven industries where demand fluctuates.

Research supports this approach. McKinsey & Company found that companies that remain disciplined on costs while continuing to invest in growth through downturns consistently outperform their peers. By the time the last significant downturn hit its lowest point in 2009, these “resilient” firms had increased their earnings (EBITDA) by 10%, while peers saw earnings drop by nearly 15%.

When firms unify their spend data, they can:

• Anticipate downturns and model “what-if” scenarios

• Maintain liquidity by tracking cash flow patterns

• Reallocate resources strategically (e.g., shifting marketing dollars to client retention or redirecting tech budgets to automation tools)

This is the foundation of meaningful financial resilience and future-ready planning.

Benefits of 8am Smart Spend for professional firms

When firms can clearly see where money is going—and why—they’re able to make decisions that support long-term stability rather than short-term reaction. Smarter spend practices help leaders stay ahead of risks, direct resources intentionally, and maintain confidence when markets shift. In practice, that means:

1. Better forecasting: Real-time visibility into spending patterns makes revenue and expenses projections more accurate. Leaders can plan upcoming investments, staffing decisions, and operational expenses with confidence.

2. Fewer financial surprises: When every category of spend is tracked consistently, unplanned costs surface sooner. This early visibility enables proactive adjustments instead of rushed, end-of-cycle decisions that can disrupt budgets and client work.

3. Stronger cost control: Clear priorities and consistent processes help firms manage vendor contracts, subscriptions, and project expenses with discipline, so money goes where it matters most.

4. Faster decision-making: With real-time insight, teams can pivot quickly when client demand shifts or unexpected costs arise. This kind of agility helps firms stay focused on their highest-value work, even when external conditions change.

To see how these benefits come together in a unified system, explore 8am Smart Spend, a connected suite of financial tools that brings visibility, control, and confidence to every financial decision.

Tools and systems that support spend visibility

Strong spend visibility isn’t possible without the proper infrastructure. Professional firms need tools that centralize financial data, automate routine processes, and surface insights early enough to act upon them. Key technology categories include:

• Automation platforms: Automate approvals, reminders, and categorization to reduce manual oversight.

• Analytics dashboards: Centralize spend data to reveal trends, costs, anomalies, and budget progress.

• Payment and billing systems: Integrate payments directly into accounting or CRM tools for real-time reconciliation.

• Vendor and subscription management: Consolidate services and track renewal cycles to eliminate duplicate or outdated expenses.

Within the 8am ecosystem, platforms like 8am LawPay, 8am MyCase, 8am DocketWise, and 8am CPACharge work together to give professional firms enterprise-level visibility and control—without enterprise complexity. 

Research also shows an increasing investment in spend management tools. According to BrexForest, 65% “plan to invest” significantly in spend management technologies this year to modernize financial workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.

Resilience through readiness

Business spend management isn’t simply a cost-efficiency strategy. It’s the groundwork for long-term resilience, giving firms reliable visibility, stronger forecasting, and the flexibility to adapt to any economic climate. True resilience isn’t reaction; it’s readiness: making informed decisions without losing momentum.

See how 8am solutions, including 8am Smart Spend, help professional firms gain real-time visibility, reduce financial surprises, and build long-term resilience. Start your free trial today.

We’re delighted to welcome Nancy Myrland, President of Myrland Marketing & Social Media, as the author of this guest post. As a leading Marketing and Business Development Advisor to law firms—and a 2023 LMA Hall of Fame inductee and LinkedIn Top Voice—Nancy is a frequent writer, speaker, trainer, and podcast host. She’s the creator of the Gain The AI Edge™ brand and Linked Course for Lawyers, bringing many years of experience and a generous spirit for helping legal professionals grow. In this piece, she shares thoughtful guidance on staying visible, steady, and connected as firms focus on economic resilience.

Signed into law in mid-2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a wide-ranging reform that touches nearly every sector of the economy. It makes many of the 2017 tax-cut provisions permanent, expands deductions for small businesses, and introduces new incentives — from childcare credits to “Trump Accounts” for newborns.

At the same time, it reins in clean-energy incentives, tightens social-program eligibility, and allocates billions toward border enforcement. 

For law firms, that breadth matters. Because when policy shifts at this scale, clients look to their lawyers first—for interpretation, compliance, and strategy.

The financial squeeze: Higher stakes on both sides of the ledger

The OBBBA comes at a time when some firms were already feeling margin pressure (See Legal IT Professionals 2024 Report on the State of the US Legal Market). Corporate clients are watching spending more closely, while rising salaries and tech costs continue to climb.

On the revenue side, firms could see client demand fluctuate by industry. Energy, construction, and manufacturing may surge in legal needs, while other sectors pause major projects until more information is available.

On the expense side, partners might face complex tax implications. The permanence of the 20 percent pass-through deduction benefits most partnership structures, but the new limits on deductions for high-income earners may offset some of those gains.

Meanwhile, law firm leaders are asking familiar questions:

• How much can we pass on rising costs to clients?

• How do we manage short-term volatility while keeping long-term growth steady?

In this moment, financial discipline isn’t just about tightening budgets—it’s about scenario planning and transparency with both teams and clients.

Tax structure rethink: How the OBBBA rewrites firm economics

Law firms—often structured as LLPs or PLLCs—live and die by how tax rules treat pass-through income. With the pass-through deduction now permanent, many firms will double down on existing structures rather than converting to corporate status.

But this is also the first major opportunity in years to re-evaluate compensation models. Partners who previously deferred income might reconsider, especially with new deduction caps and state-and-local tax (SALT) relief that varies by region.

For firm CFOs and managing partners, that means:

• Running financial forecasting and partner-distribution simulations under new tax thresholds.

• Revisiting expense categorization for technology and professional development (many may now qualify for higher depreciation limits).

• Expanding in-house tax expertise—or partnering with external advisors—to turn compliance into a client-facing service.

Firms that master these internal adjustments first will be in the best position to advise clients confidently.

New regulatory demand: When every change creates a case

Every major bill reshapes the demand curve for legal services. The OBBBA is no exception.

Energy and environmental law teams are already seeing increased inquiries from clients navigating scaled-back clean-energy credits, including questions about contract revisions, project timelines, and legacy incentives. 

Labor and employment practices will stay busy, too. The bill introduces new work-requirement language tied to federal benefits and overtime deductions—policies that intersect directly with workplace compliance.

Immigration and border law are front-page news. The OBBBA allocates billions to enforcement and processing infrastructure, increasing demand for immigration counsel, employer compliance audits, and litigation.

Corporate and tax law are set for a boom. Businesses, both large and small, will seek guidance on how to optimize their operations under the new framework.

In short: The OBBBA is creating a wave of advisory demand—not unlike what the legal sector saw after the 2017 tax overhaul. Firms ready to lead the conversation can capture new market share while deepening trust with existing clients. At the same time, several provisions—such as expanded deductions for certain businesses and longer-term tax clarity—may offer advantages that clients will look to their legal teams to fully understand and apply.

People power: Navigating workforce shifts inside the firm

Economic changes can test a firm’s talent strategy. Associates want stability. Clients want efficiency. Partners want profitability.

The OBBBA adds new variables to the mix. Expanded dependent-care and childcare credits may influence benefits design and employee expectations. At the same time, cost-of-living fluctuations are driving discussions about geographic pay differentials and remote-work tax nexus.

Firms are experimenting with learner support models and AI-powered research tools to manage costs without sacrificing quality. But the real differentiator won’t be automation—it’ll be culture.

Per the recent research from the NALP Foundation, lawyers are more likely to stay where they feel invested in the mission. A clear, transparent response to economic change—not just cuts and memos—builds long-term loyalty.

A helpful framing for leaders: How can we use this moment to reinforce our values?

Client conversations: Leading through clarity, not fear

When legislation is this complex, clients crave one thing: simplicity.

That’s where firms can deliver tremendous value—by translating 500-page bills into actionable insights. For example:

• Hosting short, digestible webinars on specific provisions.

• Sending client alerts that skip the legalese and focus on “what this means for your business.”

• Equipping associates with clear talking points that link tax and operational impacts.

Tone matters too. Clients are already anxious about the economy; they don’t need more alarm. Instead, use helpful, human language that focuses on solutions.

“Here’s what’s changing, here’s what you can do, and here’s how we can help.”

Strategy for resilience: Turning policy into advantage

The law firms that thrive through economic uncertainty tend to share a few key habits:

1. Diversify practice areas: Expand beyond corporate and litigation to include counter-cyclical services like bankruptcy, compliance, and government contracting.

2. Invest in financial literacy: Give partners and managers training on the OBBB’s key fiscal changes. Understanding the policy landscape is a strategic advantage.

3. Automate intelligently: Adopt workflow automation for billing, timekeeping, and reporting—freeing teams to focus on advisory work that clients truly value. Use AI thoughtfully and ethically. 

4. Communicate often: Regular internal updates about firm finances, hiring, and strategy keep teams grounded when the market feels unpredictable.

5. Build empathy into leadership: The firms that come out stronger are the ones that pair financial clarity with human connection.

In short: The OBBBA is a test of agility—not just of accounting skill. Firms that learn, adapt, and communicate well will convert uncertainty into growth.

The broader picture: What this says about the profession

Step back, and the bill reflects a larger truth about today’s legal economy: Change is accelerating, but trust still anchors everything.

Clients don’t just hire firms for expertise; they hire for confidence. They want to know that when the rules change, their legal partners are already on it.

This is where technology, process, and people intersect. From smarter billing tools to data-driven insights, firms that modernize now will be ready for the next wave of reform.

Economic cycles will always ebb and flow. Policy will always shift. But the firms that stay human—the ones that communicate clearly, act decisively, and keep client needs at the center—will weather it all.

Closing thought

The One Big Beautiful Bill is more than legislation. It’s a mirror reflecting how prepared—or unprepared—many firms are for a changing economic world.

Yes, it brings complexity. But it also brings clarity: a chance to simplify operations, rethink structure, and strengthen client relationships.

Because at its core, uncertainty isn’t the enemy of growth—it’s the catalyst for it.

Stay ahead of the curve. Explore how the 8am™ platform helps firms simplify operations, manage billing confidently, and keep pace with every policy change.

This article is authored by Anna Rappaport, Esq., founder and principal of Excelleration Coaching. A former practicing attorney with over 25 years of experience, Anna specializes in helping lawyers and legal teams strengthen leadership, communication, and collaboration skills. In this piece, she shares actionable steps for maintaining firm cohesion and morale amid financial or organizational uncertainty.

Allison C. Johs, Esq., is the President of Legal Ease Consulting Inc., where she helps lawyers build productive, profitable, and enjoyable practices. A former litigator and law firm administrator, Allison draws on more than 15 years of legal experience to coach lawyers on marketing, business development, productivity, and practice management. She’s also the co-author of How to Do More in Less Time and Make LinkedIn Work for You.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will soon eliminate paper checks and money orders for filing fees, effective October 28, 2025. Read below for a deep dive into this upcoming shift from DocketWise cofounder James Pittman.

If you’re not yet using generative artificial intelligence (AI)in your practice, now’s the time to start. Data from the 8am™ 2025 Legal Industry Report shows that AI has been adopted by nearly a quarter of law firms and is changing the way they operate. From streamlining internal processes to onboarding new clients, AI is helping legal professionals save time, increase efficiency, and improve client service.

Not sure where to start? You’re in luck! This post highlights 10 practical ways lawyers are using AI for law firm management and marketing. You’ll learn how AI can help with drafting policies, designing training exercises, generating website content, and more.

If you’re interested in additional AI use cases for law firms, this post is the third in a series. In earlier posts, I shared:

• 10 practical ways lawyers are using generative AI for trial preparation and drafting (Part 1)

• 10 more AI use cases for lawyers: Research, writing, and law firm management (Part 2)

Taken together, these three blog posts offer practical use cases from my recent ABA TECHSHOW presentation with attorney Greg Siskind, 60 AI Use Cases in 60 Minutes. 

Implement AI into your firm, and efficiency follows

According to data from our 2025 Legal Industry Report, lawyers are expanding how they use AI. They’re not simply drafting short letters or emails; they’re relying on AI to support marketing efforts and firm operations, too. 

According to the report, legal professionals are already using AI in legal marketing to draft blog posts, generate social media content, and support marketing and branding efforts. Rather than experimenting with AI, they’re incorporating it into their daily marketing workflows.

Lawyers are also turning to AI to run the business side of their firms for tasks related to firm management, business planning and development, and the analysis of firm data and matters. The results speak for themselves: 61% of firms reported improved efficiency after adopting AI, with the majority of legal professionals saving five or more hours per week on routine work. Looking ahead, firms expect even bigger gains from AI that include reducing overhead, cutting costs, and increasing productivity.

Interested in putting AI to work in your firm? Below you’ll find ten ideas to support your firm's marketing and law firm management efforts, along with an AI-based arbitration resource. 

But before jumping in, remember that when choosing and using AI in your practice, proceed carefully and ensure that you fully understand your ethical obligations. For example, never input sensitive client data into consumer-grade platforms, and carefully review AI-generated output for accuracy. 

With those caveats in mind, here are ten new ways to put AI to work.

10 more use cases

1. Draft your firm’s policies and procedures manual

Use case: Generate drafts of firm policies and procedures for review and implementation.

Prompt: “Create a draft section of the firm’s policies and procedures manual for handling client confidential information.”

2. Create tasks for employee training

Use case: Generate tasks or exercises for training staff or interns.

Prompt: “Create a training task for a new paralegal to practice drafting a complaint in a civil litigation case.”

3. Generate website content

Use case: Develop engaging and relevant content for a law firm’s website.

Prompt: “Generate a compelling ‘About Us’ page for a family law practice, emphasizing experience, compassion, and client-centered service.”

4. Translate web pages into multiple languages

Use case: Translate legal content on the firm’s website for a wider audience.

Prompt: “Translate this page of legal resources about divorce law into Spanish, ensuring accuracy and clarity for a Spanish-speaking audience.”

5. Marketing scripts for videos

Use case: Write scripts for promotional videos or client testimonials.

Prompt: “Write a script for a 90-second promotional video for a law firm specializing in estate planning.”

For broader strategies on staying visible in competitive markets, see how firms are using AI alongside relationship-driven marketing approaches.

6. Post ideas for social media

Use case: Generate creative and engaging social media post ideas.

Prompt: “Suggest five engaging social media post ideas for a law firm specializing in family law.”

7. Draft marketing copy

Use case: Create persuasive marketing materials to attract clients.

Prompt: “Write a short marketing email introducing the firm’s new services for personal injury clients.”

8. Draft law firm newsletter

Use case: Draft a newsletter to keep clients informed about legal trends, firm updates, and relevant legal developments.

Prompt: “Write a newsletter for a law firm specializing in employment law, including updates on recent case law, new regulations, and firm news.”

9. Blog post ideas and outlines

Use case: Generate blog topics and structured outlines for blog posts.

Prompt: “Suggest blog post ideas for a law firm focusing on immigration law, including outlines for each post.”

10. Arbitration

See the American Arbitration Association’s AAAi Chatbook for arbitration case prep and presentation. This AI tool allows you to ask questions and receive quick, tailored answers at every stage - from drafting clauses to navigating post-award steps.

How will your law firm use AI?

With that final tip, we’re wrapping up this three-part series of 30 AI use cases for law firms. From trial prep to marketing, these examples show just how versatile generative AI can be in a modern law practice.

By experimenting with AI, you’ll identify ways to increase efficiency firmwide, creating more time to focus on improving client service, enhancing strategy decisions, and supporting firm growth. 

Curious how legal-specific AI tools can save you time? Learn more about 8am MyCase, which helps you draft policies, generate marketing materials, summarize documents, and more—right from your daily workflow.

With more than 15 years of experience helping law firms improve profitability, cash flow, and financial clarity, Kelley Brubaker, CPA, knows the financial challenges attorneys face firsthand. In this post, Kelley shares her top expense management tips to help firms better control costs and make confident financial decisions.