Rank lead channels by cost per signed case: total spend (including intake labor) divided by cases signed. Channels with built-in screening and exclusivity, such as pre-screened exclusive leads and referrals, tend to produce lower cost per signed case than channels that deliver raw inquiries, even when their price per lead is higher.
The formula
Intake labor matters. A channel that produces many unqualified inquiries costs more in staff time than its invoice shows.
The eight channels and what drives their cost
Why rankings differ by firm
Market, practice area, intake speed and case criteria all change results. Your own data is the only reliable ranking. Tag every lead by source in your CRM and review monthly.
Where to start
IronFlow Legal runs most of these channels for law firms (SEO, paid search, social ads, websites, content, reputation, and exclusive pre-screened leads) and reports each on cost per signed case, so you can see which works best in your market.
One partner for all of your legal marketing
IronFlow Legal is a full-service legal marketing company for workers’ compensation, personal injury and motor vehicle accident, SSDI, and lemon law firms. We handle exclusive pre-screened lead programs, SEO and local SEO, Google Ads and Local Services Ads management, Meta and social advertising, law firm websites, content marketing, and review and reputation management, all measured on cost per signed case. Every lead we deliver is screened against your criteria, SMS-verified, delivered in real time, and never resold. Book a consultation or call (251) 233-4916.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest lead source for lawyers?
The cheapest per lead is rarely the cheapest per signed case. Referrals and well-screened exclusive leads often perform best on the metric that matters.
Should intake time be included in cost per case?
Yes. Screening unqualified inquiries is a real cost.
Written by the IronFlow Legal team
IronFlow Legal builds exclusive lead generation campaigns for law firms across workers’ compensation, personal injury, slip and fall, employment, SSDI, and lemon law. Questions about anything in this article? Call (251) 233-4916 or send us a note.