Key takeaways
Many successful law firms have one thing in common: they’ve stopped guessing and started measuring what counts. In the first session of our “Metrics That Matter” series, law firm growth strategist Krystal Champlin-Gerage breaks down how to unlock the next level of growth for your firm.
Relying on gut instinct and monthly revenue reports is no longer enough to fuel sustainable growth. In today’s fast-changing legal landscape, you need to go deeper. That’s where law firm Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) come in. These measurable metrics offer law firms a clear way to assess performance, pinpoint opportunities, and make better decisions with confidence.
What Are Law Firm Key Performance Indicators?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics that help you evaluate how effectively your firm is achieving its key business objectives. These indicators can span across all areas of your practice—from financial health and client intake to case resolution timelines and marketing performance.
Examples of common law firm KPIs include:
Billable hours per attorney
Client acquisition cost
Average case lifecycle
Revenue per matter
Client satisfaction score
Marketing ROI
These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they’re the foundation of smarter, more strategic decision-making.
Why Are KPIs Important?
Law firm KPIs help you shift from reactive decision-making to proactive business planning. They support long-term success by giving you visibility into the health of your firm and the progress you’re making toward your goals.
Accountability: With key performance metrics for law firm management in place, team performance becomes easier to evaluate and improve. Whether you’re tracking client intake speed, time to resolution, or billable hour targets, KPIs give your team transparency around expectations and highlight areas where coaching or recognition is needed.
Goal tracking: Setting goals is one thing. Measuring your progress is another. KPIs allow you to break down large objectives into trackable components, helping your team stay aligned and focused. Instead of vague aspirations like “increase revenue,” you can target specific levers like improving conversion rates or shortening the sales cycle.
Predictability: KPIs make your firm’s growth more predictable. By tracking trends in case volume, collections, and client satisfaction over time, you can forecast staffing needs, identify when to invest in technology, and plan for expansion with confidence.
How to Measure the Law Firm Performance Metrics That Matter
Choosing the right KPIs starts with identifying the metrics that reflect your firm’s unique goals—not just defaulting to industry benchmarks or generic templates.
Top tips to determine KPIs for your law firm include:
Start small: You don’t need to track everything. Focus on a handful of KPIs that relate directly to your firm’s current priorities.
Make it visible: Regularly review law firm performance metrics with your team so everyone is working from the same playbook.
Tie KPIs to action: Don’t just measure outcomes—track the behaviors that influence them. For example, instead of only measuring revenue, also monitor lead response time or consultation conversion rate.
Adjust as you grow: As your firm evolves, so should your KPIs. Revisit your metrics quarterly to make sure they’re still driving the right outcomes.
Benefits of Challenging the Status Quo
Many firms still rely on gut decisions or outdated practices because that’s how they’ve been done historically. Maybe it’s a pricing model that hasn’t changed in years or a marketing strategy based on word-of-mouth alone.
Sticking to the status quo can hold your business back in subtle but significant ways. Without data, it’s hard to know whether your processes are actually serving your goals or if they’re simply familiar. You may miss opportunities to improve client satisfaction, streamline operations, or generate more consistent revenue—all because there’s no clear picture of what’s working and what isn’t.
Financial reporting tools like LawPay’s built-in reporting features can help you move beyond guesswork. With instant access to key metrics, you can gain clearer insight into your firm’s performance and make more informed, strategic decisions.
This mindset isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building a law firm that can adapt, scale, and thrive in a competitive landscape.
Metrics That Matter and Other Upcoming Webinars
This is the first of four high-impact sessions in our Metrics That Matter series—and it’s the perfect starting point if you’re ready to take control of your firm’s growth story. Whether you’re a solo attorney or managing a growing team, this session will give you the practical tools to make smarter, data-informed decisions. Watch previous on-demand webinars and learn more about upcoming webinars from LawPay here.
Presenter
Krystal Champlin-GerageCEO