In this episode of The Legal CFO, financial strategist Ryan Kimler breaks down one of the most important questions for law firm profitability—how many cases do you really need? Ryan explains how attorneys can calculate the right number of cases based on average case value, billing models, expenses, and staff capacity. He also shares practical KPIs for tracking firm health, strategies for avoiding feast-or-famine cycles, and the dangers of being under or over capacity. From pricing strategies and case math to financial planning and firm growth, this episode is a must-listen for lawyers who want clarity and confidence in managing their caseload.
Key Timestamps:00:01 – Show introduction 01:05 – How to calculate the number of clients needed for profitability 04:15 – Setting revenue per case targets and client affordability 07:20 – Flat fee vs. hourly billing: how each impacts case math 10:45 – Risks of taking too many or too few clients 14:30 – Planning for capacity and avoiding feast-or-famine cycles 18:10 – The importance of open and close dates in caseload tracking 21:00 – Using KPIs to measure staff efficiency and firm profitability 24:20 – Old-school “3X rule” for payroll and modern adaptations 27:40 – One step law firms can take today to get a clearer picture of caseload needs 30:15 – Ryan’s favorite “Dwight Schrute” moments from The Office
About the Show:The Legal CFO with Ryan Kimler helps attorneys transform their practices into profitable, sustainable businesses. By focusing on financial clarity, KPIs, and smart growth strategies, Ryan empowers law firm owners to understand their numbers, make informed decisions, and build firms that thrive.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.