A solo criminal-defense firm where the attorney’s attention is the real operating constraint — especially when trial prep compresses the whole business into one person.
Back to the readsCases incubate slowly, then compress suddenly at trial. The firm has no early-warning system for that compression, no intake throttle, and no protocol for holding existing clients while the attorney is in full trial mode.
Flat retainers absorb unpredictable attorney time. Consultations convert at an unknown rate and cost. Client communication goes untracked, so high-anxiety, low-complexity matters can quietly consume the firm’s attention.
Any commitment-bearing decision — lead time, emergency matters, payment plans, status updates during trial prep — routes back to the attorney. Legal judgment and business judgment have become the same path.
With more than two cases in active trial prep, the firm stops accepting new felony matters.
Separate what needs a law license from what merely needs a rule.
State what is included and what triggers a billing conversation before the overrun happens.