Pricing & Profitability

A Smarter Cost Structure for Junior Legal Talent

Starting associate salaries have risen sharply, while client pressure on billing rates has not let up; some companies are refusing to pay for first-year legal work altogether. The result is a pricing gap that is difficult to close with traditional hiring models.

Legal Innovators offers a different approach. We price our placements to reduce what firms pay for junior talent, without reducing the quality of that talent. Firms can pass those savings to clients through more competitive rates, or retain them to improve profitability.

Our model also reduces the cost of a bad hire. Firms evaluate attorneys on a structured trial basis before making a permanent commitment, which means every conversion is a confident one.

We pay our attorneys' salaries and benefits and provide training, mentorship, performance coaching, and wellness support.

Legal Innovators bears the cost of recruitment and development. Clients evaluate attorneys on a structured trial basis, with the option to hire permanently after demonstrated performance.

Clients pay an annual fee, billed quarterly, for each placed attorney. Placed attorneys work exclusively for that firm or legal department, under its supervision and direction.

“Clients are absolutely cost sensitive. The traditional law firm model is inherently at odds with the goals of the client. When you’re an attorney you’re rewarded for billing as many hours as you can. When you’re in-house you need to be as efficient as possible. A model where the clients can control costs – that will be the future.”

Rahsaana Allen, General Counsel, ExchangeRight Real Estate