State of the Market for Law Firm Sales E-News
December 2025
4 Trends for Law Firm Sales in 2026
In 2026, law firm sales will be reshaped by the decline of traditional Book‑of‑Business sales, rising staff departures from Senior Attorney–led firms, the normalization of digitally driven “Rainmaker” firms, and the emergence of higher‑value, data‑backed Law Firm Sales 2.0–3.0 models.
November 2025
When is the Right Time to Sell a Senior Attorney-led Law Firm?
This issue explains that the best time to sell a Senior Attorney-led law firm is sooner rather than later, as digital marketing disruption is reducing the value of traditional Books of Business, while growing firms still seek clients, talent, and subject matter expertise.
October 2025
The “One-Two Punch” of AI + Google Continues to Decrease the Relevancy of yester-year’s Rainmaker Attorneys
Read how the rise of AI and Google is diminishing the influence of traditional Rainmaker Attorneys, urging Senior Attorneys to sell their firms now before declining business development and digital disruption further reduce law firm value.
September 2025
Thoughts on Law Firm Sales During the Second Half of the 2020s
Learn how digital disruption is reshaping law firm sales in the 2020s, specifically the shift from traditional client origination to multi-channel digital marketing. Read about our prediction in the rise in Law Firm Sales 2.0, which values digital presence and brand equity alongside traditional earnouts.
August 2025
Senior Attorney Match’s 4-Step Design Phase
In this issue, we cover law firm valuation, identifying potential buyers, exploring sale options, and structuring payment terms. We announce an upcoming CLE event and offer resources for law practice transitions.
July 2025
The Impact of Digital Rainmaking Upon Law Firm Sales
This month’s newsletter explores how the rise of Digital Rainmaking and multi-channel marketing is transforming law firm sales, increasing the value of firms that embrace online strategies while challenging those that rely on traditional client development.
June 2025
Why the Rewards Outweigh the Risks for Growth by Acquisition
Learn why the rewards of law firm growth through acquisition—such as instant client expansion, experienced staff, and digital value—far outweigh the risks, making it a strategic path for Growing Law Firms.
May 2025
Dos and Don’ts for Succession Planning for Lawyers in the mid-2020s
Discover the top five Dos and Don’ts for succession planning in the Mid-2020s, emphasizing digital readiness, updated client information, and strategic options like selling or merging with Growing Law Firms.
April 2025
Why Most Key Employee Lawyers Choose Not to Purchase Their Boss’ Law Firm
This newsletter explains why most key employee lawyers choose not to buy their boss’s law firm, highlighting the risks that outweigh potential rewards and the resulting impact on succession planning and firm value.
March 2025
The Devastating Impact of a “Random Tuesday” Event Upon Senior Attorney-led Law Firms
Read the warnings about the devastating impact of “Random Tuesday” events—such as sudden key employee departures or a Senior Attorney’s premature death—on law firm value and succession planning, and offers strategies to mitigate these risks.
February 2025
Multi-Channel Digital Marketing During Today’s 3.0 Digital Era for the Legal Industry Continues Disrupting Age-Old Business Development by Lawyers and Has Ushered in the Age of the Vanishing Rainmaker
This newsletter explores how the rise of Multi-Channel Digital Marketing in the 3.0 Digital Era has ushered in the Age of the Vanishing Rainmaker, diminishing the value of traditional Books of Business for Senior Attorney-led firms that fail to adapt.
January 2025
3 Trends for Law Firm Sales in 2025
Read about three major trends shaping law firm sales in 2025, including continued acquisitions of Senior Attorney-led firms, the growing importance of Multi-Channel Digital Marketing, and the emergence of Law Firm Sales 2.0 with upfront payments for digital value and brand equity.
2024
December 2024
4 Lessons Learned in 2024 for Law Firm Sales
This newsletter shares four key lessons learned in 2024 about law firm sales, including why Growing Law Firms remain the best buyers, the importance of trust transfer, the reality that key employees rarely become successors, and the critical need for digital visibility to maintain firm value.
November 2024
The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid Before Selling a Law Firm
Learn about the top five mistakes to avoid before selling a law firm, including waiting too long to sell, assuming internal successors will buy, underestimating Google’s role in client acquisition, overlooking digital content opportunities, and relying on the status quo.
October 2024
The Top 3 Reasons Why Senior Attorneys Delay Selling Their Law Firms to a Growing Law Firm
Explore the top three fears that cause Senior Attorneys to delay selling their law firms—loss of autonomy, identity, and control—while debunking these concerns and warning of the risks of maintaining the status quo without a succession plan.
September 2024
2 of the 4 Upgrades that Senior Attorney-led Firms present to Growing Law Firms
This newsletter highlights two key upgrades Senior Attorney-led firms offer Growing Law Firms—instant client growth through established Books of Business and an experienced workforce—while emphasizing the untapped digital content that can drive marketing success in today’s 3.0 Digital Era.
July 2024
Topics from Episode 14 of the Ask the Law Firm Seller Show
Found out what law firm owners should do when preparing to sell, covering the two main types of sales—Law Firm Sales 1.0 and 2.0—and key steps like updating client lists, websites, and LinkedIn profiles to maximize value in today’s digital era.
June 2024
The 3 Treasure Chests of Digital Value That Senior Attorneys Present to Growing Law Firms
This newsletter highlights the three “treasure chests” of digital value Senior Attorneys offer Growing Law Firms—Google reviews, untapped digital content, and website goodwill—while explaining how these assets enhance marketing and client acquisition in today’s digital era.
May 2024
The 4 Winners When Senior Attorneys Sell to Growing Law Firms
Find out more about the four key winners when Senior Attorneys sell their law firms to Growing Law Firms—Senior Attorneys, key employees, clients, and the acquiring firm—while learning why internal successors rarely buy and how joining a larger firm ensures continuity and growth.
April 2024
A Typical Trajectory of Expectations of Senior Attorneys and Their Would-Be Internal Successors
This newsletter illustrates the common mismatch between Senior Attorneys’ expectations and their key employees’ priorities in succession planning, explaining why internal successors rarely buy and how timely planning with Growing Law Firms prevents revenue loss and “Random Tuesday” events.
March 2024
Why Are Today’s Senior Attorneys Tired of Running Their Law Firms?
Learn why many Senior Attorneys are tired of running their law firms—citing post-Covid pressures, the realization that internal successors won’t buy, and the challenges of the 3.0 Digital Era—and outlines three options: maintain the status quo, embrace digital marketing, or join a Growing Law Firm.
February 2024
How Long Does it Take to Sell a Law Practice?
Read why selling a law practice typically takes 3–9 months and the six key meetings and essential updates to make before listing a firm,. Find out about “Random Tuesday” events that can reduce value, and the urgency for Senior Attorneys to act in the Age of the Vanishing Rainmaker.
January 2024
Trend #1 for Law Firm Sales in 2024: Law Firm Sales 1.0 Will Continue in 2024
This newsletter outlines two major trends shaping law firm sales in 2024—the continued dominance of Law Firm Sales 1.0 with earnout-based deals and the rise of Law Firm Sales 2.0 featuring fixed pricing for digital and brand value—while emphasizing why Growing Law Firms should pursue acquisitions and why Senior Attorneys should act before their Books of Business lose value.
2023
December 2023
The Top 3 Lessons Learned in 2023 About Law Firm Sales
This newsletter shares the top three lessons learned in 2023 about law firm sales: internal successors prefer job security over ownership, trust transfer is essential for successful transitions, and Senior Attorneys’ Books of Business are losing value without digital marketing.
November 2023
Why Joining a Growing Law Firm Presents the Preferred Option for Selling a Law Firm
Read about why, among the three main options for selling a law firm (internal succession, outside sale, or joining a growing law firm), Senior Attorney Match prefers the latter because it offers client growth, experienced staff, and marketing advantages.