The Mad Clientist

The number of top legal decision makers recommending firms to their peers dropped for the 2nd year in a row. A concerning trend as clients continue to expect more. This is even more concerning when you factor in the shrinking number of law firms clients keep on their short list…

Clients cut more law firms from their Short Lists for Hire than in any other of the 9 attributes impacting hiring decisions—dropping 21.5% of firms from their 2016 short lists. Top legal decision makers are no longer considering firms who are on the margins of performance. Clients keep wanting more…

The pace ebbs and flows, but every client knows the legal industry is steadily consolidating. Clients want to work with the survivors. Every time top legal decision makers hire a law firm for a matter with a potential to last for years, they think about whether the firm will be…

We can only look at the underlying data and believe there are big changes brewing in the law firm value proposition. This year clients report the number of law firms making changes to deliver more value, at 267, nearly doubled from last year when it was 138. These firms are…

The number of clients reporting they face Bet-the-Company work quadrupled over the last 4 years. But, top legal decision makers at these companies report 17% fewer law firms are equipped to handle these high-risk matters. Clients see 126 law firms able to handle their Bet-the-Company matters—less than 20% of all…

More law firms are upping their client-facing tech savvy. Clients recognize 33 more law firms than last year for Tech Savvy—an impressive 38% increase over last year. Clients are looking for technology which streamlines processes and communication, and enables improved reporting about budget and work to date. Clients name 119…

Top legal decision makers are paying more law firms premium rates than last year. This is a direct result of the surge in Bet-the-Company work and the growing number of law firms delivering more value. BTI research shows 28 law firms gained newly earned status in especially hard to get…

Clients report a 60% increase in the number of law firms making changes to boost client service. Clients note selective use of client feedback, improved communication, more reaching out for client preferences, increase in firms anticipating needs, and offering proactive advice. And of course, response time is always just what…