Do big-firm litigation paralegals wonder about switching to the small-firm world?
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"Litigation boutiques generally are characterized as having one dozen to two dozen lawyers, a payment system other than billable hours and careful selection of cases to enhance the firm’s ability to provide individualized client service [PDF link]. The boutiques [PDF link] argue that they often provide better value than the litigation departments of larger firms.
"Unlike bigger firms, many litigation shops offer a variety of payment options [PDF link] for clients: flat fee, contingency or a mix that may include some billable hours. The billing approach depends on the type of litigation, and litigation shops focusing on commercial defense differ from personal injury firms.
"’At the large firms, often what is heard is a large sucking sound,’ said Steven L. Schwarzberg, of Schwarzberg Spector Duke Schulz & Rogers, an 11-attorney firm in West Palm Beach that focuses on defending employers in suits filed by employees or former employees. ‘There are lots and lots of fees, but not a lot of results.’"