It is understandable that clients would like to know how much their case is worth. This raises the issue of how to value cases. In civil law, particularly in personal injury law, the only means of redress is financial compensation. Experienced practitioners are often very close in assessing value. I would think that this is attributable to the common criteria that is unofficially used to “price cases.” Obviously, every case depends upon the liability and damages. But numerous factors go into the determination of what constitutes good liability and what constitutes heavy damages. Common sense is a good guide on these issues. Seasoned attorneys will tell you, as I have blogged in the past, that the personal characteristics of both the plaintiff and the defendant have a surprisingly important role. That should not surprise anyone. Whether a client is likeable, honest, and decent appearing should go a long way toward explaining how he/she came to be injured and how he/she has suffered as a result. Is there a magic formula? In spite of the shockingly close valuations that the attorneys in my office make, I have to say that there is no magic. Consistency among likeminded attorneys maybe, but magic no.