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Two-Lawyer Model
Two lawyers often cost less than one -
because you fund one path, not both.
Published: 25 September 2025 | Last review: 14 December 2026
The Structural Question
In most litigation matters, the same firm may conduct both:
settlement discussions and mediation, and
preparation for trial, including pleadings and evidence.
There is no duplication of work in that structure.
However, settlement strategy and trial preparation sit within one billing relationship.
When both paths are prepared concurrently, timing and scope may become difficult for clients to see clearly.
Clean Law adopts a different structure.
Two Independent Lanes
Under the Clean Law model:
Lane 1: Clean Law
Settlement strategy, mediation, timing control, escrow oversight, and cost-safety analysis.
Lane 2: Courtroom Lawyer
Pleadings, evidence, contested hearings, and trial advocacy.
Clients begin in Lane 1 only and fund that lane only.
If litigation proceeds to trial, the client appoints a separate courtroom lawyer and funds that lane at that time.
This separation ensures that settlement work and trial preparation do not sit within one blended role.
Three Structural Protections
These protections arise from structure, not assurances.
1. Independent Early Case Analysis
Clean Law prepares a case analysis rather than a litigation brief.
This analysis:
identifies legal options
explains risks and timing
does not instruct counsel
does not initiate trial preparation
Because Clean Law does not conduct contested hearings, we do not benefit financially from recommending trial preparation.
2. Result-Based Alignment
Clean Law’s fixed fees apply to settlement and oversight work.
A results-based bonus is payable only when early settlement avoids identifiable trial costs.
No bonus is linked to damages recovered.
No contingency percentage applies.
If no trial costs are avoided, no bonus arises.
This structure links our remuneration to avoided trial expenditure, not to prolonging proceedings.
3. Escrow Authority
Funds are held in a regulated trust account with stage-based escrow controls.
Each stage:
has defined scope
has completion criteria
requires client approval before release of funds
No future stage is funded in advance.
Escrow ensures:
work must match the agreed stage
unearned funds remain untouched
switching lawyers does not require duplicate payment
Escrow adds a client-controlled release gate alongside ordinary trust protections.
Why Separation Matters
For separation to operate cleanly:
Clean Law must be capable of litigation
Clean Law must refrain from acting in contested hearings
This ensures:
settlement advice is not influenced by potential trial revenue
courtroom advocacy remains fully independent
oversight and advocacy never sit within the same role
Courtroom lawyers owe their paramount duty to the Court.
Clean Law’s role remains limited to settlement strategy, cost oversight, and escrow supervision.
The two roles remain distinct.
Governance and Independence
The model operates within:
Safeguards include:
annual Law Society trust-account audits
ACNC governance and reporting
constitutional prohibition on referral fees
no panels
no profit sharing with courtroom firms
These mechanisms make independence structural rather than discretionary.
See:
In Summary
Two independent lawyers may cost less than one blended role
because the client funds only the path the matter actually takes.
Separation clarifies timing.
Escrow clarifies authority.
Result-based alignment clarifies incentives.
The structure is designed so that:
If early settlement avoids trial costs, both client and Clean Law benefit.
If the matter escalates, Clean Law’s remuneration does not increase with delay.
Cost safety becomes structural.
Integrity follows from design.
By Nicky Wang
Principal Solicitor
Legal Liaison Ltd (trading as Clean Law)
Prepared in accordance with public-interest governance, annual Law Society trust-account audits, and ACNC-reported standards.
Disclaimer: General information only. Not legal advice.