Contingency Legal Service Marketplace
This post identifies a specific need within the legal industry for contingency-based services, particularly court reporting, where a previous provider ceased offering this model. A SaaS platform could act as a specialized marketplace connecting legal professionals/firms with service providers (e.g., court reporters, expert witnesses) willing to work on a contingency basis. The SaaS would manage contracts, payment escrow, success tracking, and dispute resolution, significantly reducing administrative burden and financial risk for both parties. The niche is clear, the need is explicit, and the value proposition (risk mitigation, streamlined process) is strong, allowing for transaction-based or subscription fees.
Origin Reddit Post
r/lawyertalk
Contingency-Based Court Reporting Services
Posted by u/jaselakers95•07/19/2025
Can anyone recommend a contingency-based court reporting service?
I used to use Steno but they recently stopped doing contingency-based arrangements (example - if no recovery in the case, yo
Top Comments
u/TheLawLord
Steno‘s website describes a somewhat different program, called DelayPay, where the amount of its fee doesn’t change, but it allows the law firm to defer payment until the case settles. As far
u/jaselakers95
No they just charge higher pre-set rates. Like maybe 20% more than what most court reporters would charge if paid on traditional terms.
u/MrPotatoheadEsq
I've never heard of this. Do the reporters get a percentage of the recovery to offset the risk of not getting paid?
u/esbstrd88
I'm surprised this is legal. Isn't it problematic for the court reporter to have a financial interest in the outcome of the litigation?
u/Fluxcapacitar
There’s no way this is a thing.
u/MrPotatoheadEsq
I've never heard of this. Do the reporters get a percentage of the recovery to offset the risk of not getting paid?
u/jaselakers95
There is another service they used to provide. I believe it was called non-recourse. You’d only pay them if you’d recover.
u/esbstrd88
I'm surprised this is legal. Isn't it problematic for the court reporter to have a financial interest in the outcome of the litigation?
u/jaselakers95
Veritext is the worst. What issue have you had with them?
u/dmonsterative
The company likely paid the actual CSRs and took on the risk. They can make some money in the interim selling the transcripts to the other parties. Still shady.
(Though Veritext's business p
u/jaselakers95
No they just charge higher pre-set rates. Like maybe 20% more than what most court reporters would charge if paid on traditional terms.
u/MusikmanWedding
Never heard of this. Giving the stenographer a financial interest in the case outcome can’t be legal. Particularly if not disclosed. I would move to strike any testimony I didn’t like.
u/MrPotatoheadEsq
I've never heard of this. Do the reporters get a percentage of the recovery to offset the risk of not getting paid?
u/esbstrd88
I'm surprised this is legal. Isn't it problematic for the court reporter to have a financial interest in the outcome of the litigation?
u/dmonsterative
The company likely paid the actual CSRs and took on the risk. They can make some money in the interim selling the transcripts to the other parties. Still shady.
(Though Veritext's business p
u/jaselakers95
There is another service they used to provide. I believe it was called non-recourse. You’d only pay them if you’d recover.
u/jaselakers95
It was as off a few months ago.
u/TheLawLord
Steno‘s website describes a somewhat different program, called DelayPay, where the amount of its fee doesn’t change, but it allows the law firm to defer payment until the case settles. As far
u/TheLawLord
Steno‘s website describes a somewhat different program, called DelayPay, where the amount of its fee doesn’t change, but it allows the law firm to defer payment until the case settles. As far
u/jaselakers95
Veritext is the worst. What issue have you had with them?
u/jaselakers95
Veritext is the worst. What issue have you had with them?
u/MrPotatoheadEsq
I've never heard of this. Do the reporters get a percentage of the recovery to offset the risk of not getting paid?
u/esbstrd88
I'm surprised this is legal. Isn't it problematic for the court reporter to have a financial interest in the outcome of the litigation?
u/MusikmanWedding
Never heard of this. Giving the stenographer a financial interest in the case outcome can’t be legal. Particularly if not disclosed. I would move to strike any testimony I didn’t like.
u/jaselakers95
No they just charge higher pre-set rates. Like maybe 20% more than what most court reporters would charge if paid on traditional terms.
u/jaselakers95
There is another service they used to provide. I believe it was called non-recourse. You’d only pay them if you’d recover.
u/MusikmanWedding
Never heard of this. Giving the stenographer a financial interest in the case outcome can’t be legal. Particularly if not disclosed. I would move to strike any testimony I didn’t like.
u/dmonsterative
The company likely paid the actual CSRs and took on the risk. They can make some money in the interim selling the transcripts to the other parties. Still shady.
(Though Veritext's business p
u/jaselakers95
No they just charge higher pre-set rates. Like maybe 20% more than what most court reporters would charge if paid on traditional terms.