Gilbert + Tobin is committing the legal-industry equivalent of heresy: using computers to reduce billable hours. In an Australian first for a major law firm, G+T has filed several patent applications to cover new computer applications it has built. The technology automates manual and time-consuming database searches and streamlined aspects of corporate transactions.

"Rather than take 20 hours, some tasks can now be done in two hours," said intellectual property partner John Lee, who was involved in developing the computer programs.