I Filled Out a Case Connect Form & Did an Intake

04/04/25 • 19 min

The digital marketing landscape for lawyers has fundamentally changed, and small law firms are feeling the squeeze. Large multi-state firms have discovered a profitable formula: automate backend processes, offshore what they can, and reinvest those savings into increasingly aggressive advertising campaigns. The result? Client acquisition costs have skyrocketed to $2,400-$3,000 per case – an unsustainable model for most small practices.
At the center of this transformation are companies like Case Connect, flooding social media with deceptive advertisements promising "Harvard-level AI" that can instantly calculate settlement values while explicitly telling viewers to avoid "greedy lawyers." These misleading campaigns create unrealistic expectations while simultaneously undermining the perceived value of legal representation. What happens when a potential client fills out one of these forms? They're quickly connected with a law firm using carefully crafted intake scripts designed to sign cases within minutes – even on weekends – often charging premium contingency rates of 40% to offset their enormous marketing expenses.
For solo practitioners and small firms that can't match this "speed-to-lead" approach, competing in the digital arena has become nearly impossible. The sustainable path forward isn't trying to outspend these marketing behemoths but rather doubling down on what small firms do best: building relationships, fostering community connections, and providing exceptional client service that naturally generates referrals. By focusing on creating remarkable experiences rather than chasing the latest marketing trend, small firms can build practices that aren't vulnerable to the whims of search algorithms or dependent on increasingly expensive digital advertising. Discover how to position your firm to thrive in this challenging landscape while maintaining your professional integrity and building a practice you genuinely enjoy.

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Brian Glass is a nationally recognized personal injury lawyer in Fairfax, Virginia. He is passionate about living a life of his own design and looking for answers to solutions outside of the legal field. This podcast is his effort to share that passion with others.
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Previous Episode

Your Small Law Firm by 2030: Offshore, Optimized, or Obsolete? | Gabriel Stiritz

It’s April Fools’ Day—but what you’re about to hear is no joke.

The legal industry is facing a quiet revolution. AI tools are writing demand letters. Offshore teams are handling case management. And some of the biggest personal injury firms in the country are pulling in $25,000 per case—while still struggling to turn a profit.

So what gives?

In this episode, Brian Glass sits down with Gabriel Stiritz, founder of Lexamica and one of the sharpest minds in legal tech and strategy, to answer the question that’s on every small firm owner’s mind:

What will your law firm look like in 2030—and will it even exist?

Together, they unpack the rise of cost compression, the ethics of passing AI expenses onto clients, and why operations—not just marketing—now make or break your business. Gabriel also shares why Big Law’s playbook might not be worth copying, and how small firms can win by staying scrappy, service-oriented, and deeply rooted in their communities.

If you've ever wondered whether it’s worth chasing scale, if 40% fees are sustainable, or how to compete in a market increasingly owned by hedge funds and software... this conversation is your roadmap.

This isn’t just a forecast—it’s a challenge. And the time to rethink your strategy is now.

Press play to hear what’s coming—and what to do about it.

Connect with Gabriel:
Follow Gabriel Stiritz on LinkedIn or learn more about Lexamica at lexamica.com

Next Episode

Inside a Coaching Call | To Leave My Firm or Stay?

You’re 20 years into your legal career... and something feels off. Do you stay where it’s safe — or finally bet on yourself?

In this episode of Life Beyond the Briefs, Brian sits down with a mystery guest — we’re calling him Mr. X — for a raw, unscripted coaching call. Mr. X is stuck between two paths: leave his firm and build something of his own, or join another practice with the promise of future equity.

But this conversation isn’t just about business. It’s about autonomy, mental health, and what it really means to take control of your future.

If you’ve ever asked yourself:

Should I go out on my own?
What if I make the wrong choice?
Is it too late to design a life I actually want?

Then hit play. This one’s for you.

Life Beyond the Briefs - I Filled Out a Case Connect Form & Did an Intake

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.501

Happy Friday , my friends , and welcome back to Life Beyond the Briefs , the number one podcast for lawyers choosing to live lives of their own design and build the kind of practice that they enjoy showing up to on Monday . Now , if you are a lawyer , and especially if you're an injury lawyer , and you're running paid digital ads online either you're running LSAs or PPCs or maybe