From a Liberum Capital report highlighted by Jason Wilson at rethinc.k:
Legal publishing margins have fallen from an estimated 25% in 2008 to 14% in 2011, and organic revenue growth has seen two years of organic revenue declines followed by anaemic growth in 2011. We do not see this recovering. It is clear that the legal publishing business will remain under considerable structural challenge[.]
See also Robert McKay’s post, The End of Legal Publishing?.
Sam Glover has been writing about law practice technology, management, marketing, and other stuff on Lawyerist since 2007. He consults on appeals and motion practice in his solo practice. When he isn't blogging or lawyering, Sam drinks espresso and plays with fountain pens.
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I was thinking about this the other day. Now that our state rules of civil procedure are available online, what’s the point of buying a copy?
Mr. McKay should read your recent post on editing.
MCG
Well, I think that part of the problem is the *massive* cost of legal material in print. As a young attorney, I just can’t afford to spend $3,000 on a reporter series that’s available for free online and in a more convenient format. These materials are in the public domain – how can the exorbitantly high rates possibly be justified?