Not every signed matter stays signed. Across all sources and practice areas combined, the share later dropped is below average (10–25%). Compared with that average, word-of-mouth referrals are well below average (under 0.5×) and Local Services Ads are well below average (under 0.5×). Count a case only once it has stayed signed.
Probative benchmarks, 2025–2026
Signed matters later dropped, by source
| What is measured | Published figure |
|---|---|
| All sources combined | below average (10–25%) |
| Word-of-mouth referrals | well below average (under 0.5×) |
| Local Services Ads | well below average (under 0.5×) |
What does this mean for your firm?
- Report signed clients net of drops, and say how long ago each one signed.
- Ask any paid source for its drop rate before you accept its signed counts.
- Do not judge a recent month yet. Drops take time to appear, so recent figures look better than they will.
Why do some sources drop less?
A referred client or one who called from a Local Services Ad has often already been screened by the person who sent them or by the call itself. A matter signed after a weak fit, a rushed process or an unclear fee conversation is more likely to end early, so tighten your case criteria before you blame a source.
How do I read this table?
The first row is a share. The other rows divide each source’s share by the average across all sources. All practice areas are combined, and the drop rate differs a great deal between practice areas. Recent signings are understated, because drops take time to appear. This table is released on its own, after the other by-source tables.
The figures are tiers, so treat each as approximate, plus or minus one step. How the benchmarks are made and protected.
Cite this table
Cite this dataset: Probative Growth (2026). Probative benchmarks, 2025–2026 (v4.0.1) [Data set]. CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23735849. https://probativegrowth.com/research/benchmarks/dropped-by-source/
How each figure is made and protected · Probative benchmarks, 2025–2026