Case Study: Process Server Triples Revenue with LegalConnect E-filing Software 

When California’s courts began moving to e-filing, Margie Raetz-Bailey faced an uncertain future. Within a year of signing on to LegalConnect’s e-filing software, her revenue had grown threefold.  

Flashback to 2020. Margie had been running her solo litigation support service business, Action Attorney Service, for three decades—a success by any measure. She prided herself in giving personal service to her clients and enjoyed getting out to serve papers and file court documents.  

But she saw the writing on the wall: More and more courts were adopting mandatory e-filing. She worried her business might not survive. 

“I had no idea what to expect as far as what my future would hold,” Margie recalled. 

Shopping for E-filing Software 

Not one to give up easily, Margie was ready to do what it took to stay relevant. Now the challenge was how. 

In shopping for litigation support service software, she faced the same challenges others in the industry faced at the time: Lack of experience and a confusing marketplace. 

How could she choose an e-filing system when she didn’t know how to e-file herself? And with multiple e-filing platforms on the market, how to know which one to trust? 

She began researching options online. She found several e-filing software companies, but sifting through their offerings wasn’t easy.  

“It’s hard to really know by just looking at what they present online,” she explained.  

It was the input from her peers in the legal support industry that helped her decide—they raved about the customer support they received. “My associates highly recommended LegalConnect.” 

Margie also saw the value in using the same software as her peers in her interconnected field. “I felt it was important to be on the same system so I could collaborate with them and address different issues that came up.” 

That word-of-mouth endorsement convinced her to take the leap. 

A Team Focused on Her Success 

Margie signed up in the fall of 2021, and soon after started working with LegalConnect’s Partner Success team to get set up.  

The first problem they helped her solve was that Margie didn’t have a website. Up to then, she hadn’t needed one. But a website is necessary to post a link to the LegalConnect platform.  

Margie was daunted by the time-consuming and expensive process of creating a website. The team had a simple, practical suggestion: Start with a one-page site featuring her logo and a link to the platform. 

“That made it a lot easier to get started,” said Margie. 

(Margie has since upgraded to a full-fledged website: actionattorneyservice.com.)

After signing up for QuickBooks, setting up ACH payments, and signing the necessary agreements, Margie was ready to learn how to e-file using the platform.  

The LegalConnect team worked with her for a few weeks over video conference to demonstrate the workflows. Soon, she was fully comfortable using the platform. 

“It’s fairly intuitive working through the tabs,” said Margie. “Once you’ve done it a few times, it becomes pretty smooth.” 

Margie was feeling confident in her choice of software, based on the customer support alone. “They really helped me learn the system and get on board. I just can’t say enough about LegalConnect’s willingness to help me succeed.” 

Minimum Effort, Maximum Result 

Margie signed on to LegalConnect to stay relevant in an evolving industry. After a few months, she could comfortably say “mission accomplished”—the e-filing clients had started to flow in.  

But as time went on, she started to experience two benefits she hadn’t foreseen: more time and more revenue.  

The extra time was due to the self-service nature of LegalConnect. After an initial learning curve, her clients got used to placing orders through the portal. Now, she said, 95 to 98% file directly.  

“That frees me up quite a bit.” 

Her e-filing customers were also the main source of a significant bump in revenue. Without her needing to do much, within a year, her revenue had tripled.  

“A lot of the income is passive,” she remarked. “You’re not even aware of a lot of the orders. It just goes through the system.” 

Her business was scaling before her eyes.  

The other factor that contributed to revenue growth was the change in how she got paid. LegalConnect Payments changes the game for litigation support service providers. Instead of fronting court fees, sending an invoice, and waiting 30 days (or more) to get paid, partners can take payment at the time of service, which improves cash flow almost instantly. 

“You bill on the system and get paid right away,” Margie said. “That’s the draw for a lot of my associates, too.” 

And with the platform’s QuickBooks integration, she now had the means to monitor revenue and operating expenses in real time.  

Overcoming Challenges 

As with any big change, there were challenges that came along with the transition to e-filing.  

Learning the nuances of each of the state’s 58 courts was no joke. But with calls to court clerks and occasional help from the Partner Success team, she became adept at navigating the differences in naming and process. (Our up-to-date California eFile Courts Guide helps too.) 

“Initially you’ll have more rejections,” she noted. “But as you catch on, it becomes apparent that this is a very efficient way to file.” 

And in the “more money, more problems” category, Margie’s tax bill grew too. She advises other legal support service providers to make sure they have the right tax structure in place to handle the increase in revenue. She also recommends hiring an accountant who’s experienced in QuickBooks.  

Unlimited Potential for Growth, at Her Pace 

LegalConnect didn’t just help Margie adapt to e-filing—it helped her modernize her business, increase efficiency, and unlock new revenue streams. 

And while she primarily uses LegalConnect for e-filing, she’s starting to use it for process serving too. That’s expanded her geographic reach beyond California’s Bay Area to the entire nation. 

Margie is training new process servers and has hired her daughter to help with bookkeeping, but she still likes to get out and do the hands-on work. The system supports growth at a pace she’s comfortable with.  

“The potential to do big things with LegalConnect is always there,” she said. “It’s a well-thought-out and well-maintained system.” 

Margie’s future no longer looks uncertain. Like her colleagues who convinced her to sign on, she’s become an advocate: “I highly recommend LegalConnect to anyone starting e-filing or expanding their services.”   

Triple Your Efficiency and Your Revenue 

See how LegalConnect empowers legal support professionals to automate, grow, and thrive in the e-filing era. Talk to a LegalConnect expert today.