If you hold an active bar license, you can start earning $150–$350 per court appearance — no overhead, no retainer clients, no marketing required. Here is exactly how to get started on CourtCounsel.AI.
"I pick up 3–4 status conferences a week between my own cases. It takes maybe 45 minutes each, the brief is already prepared, and Stripe hits my account two days later. Best passive income move I've made since passing the bar."
Solo practitioner, Miami, FL — CourtCounsel.AI network attorneyAppearance work fits attorneys at almost every career stage — from recent graduates building income to veteran practitioners looking for flexible work on their terms.
You have your own caseload but court schedules create gaps in your calendar. Appearance work fills those gaps with predictable, flat-fee income. No business development required — just accept the requests that fit your day.
You're winding down your practice but aren't ready to stop entirely. Appearance work lets you stay active, keep your license sharp, and earn on a schedule you fully control — 1 gig a week or 10, your choice.
You've passed the bar and need to build income while developing your own practice. Appearance work is immediate, requires no client relationships, and builds real courtroom experience from your first week.
You've moved to in-house, government, or a non-practice role but want to maintain your bar license with active use. Appearance work keeps you current and generates income without the commitment of a private caseload.
Parenting, caregiving, or other obligations mean you can't commit to full-time practice. Appearance work is by definition part-time — you set your availability windows and only accept what works for your schedule that week.
Your firm has more hearing coverage needs than billable associate capacity. Appearance work lets you supplement your own coverage, refer overflow internally, and build a relationship with a platform that smooths out scheduling conflicts.
Fees are set by hearing type. You see the exact fee before you accept any request. No negotiation, no invoicing, no accounts receivable.
| Hearing Type | Typical Duration | Attorney Fee | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status / Case Management Conference | 15–30 min | $175–$225 | Scheduling orders, status updates, pretrial conferences |
| Uncontested Motion Hearing | 15–45 min | $200–$250 | Continuances, default judgments, agreed motions |
| Contested Motion Hearing | 45–90 min | $250–$350 | Summary judgment, motions to dismiss, discovery disputes |
| Arraignment / Initial Appearance | 10–30 min | $175–$225 | Criminal arraignments, bail hearings, first appearances |
| Family Law Scheduling Hearing | 15–45 min | $200–$250 | Divorce/custody status conferences, order-entry hearings |
| Half-Day Appearance | 2–4 hours | $300–$500 | Evidentiary hearings, longer motion arguments, complex pretrial matters |
| Other (Administrative, Bankruptcy, Immigration) | Varies | $175–$300 | 341 meetings, immigration check-ins, administrative hearings |
All fees shown are attorney payout — what you receive, not what the client pays. Payment is released within 48 hours of accepted outcome report submission via Stripe direct deposit.
One to two gigs per week — compatible with a full-time practice or other employment. About 3–4 hours of actual courthouse time per week.
Five appearances per week — doable as a primary income source or aggressive supplement. Includes a mix of hearing types with average fee of $250.
From submitting your application to receiving payment after your first hearing — most attorneys are fully onboarded within 48 hours of applying.
The baseline requirement is an active bar license in at least one U.S. state. That's the non-negotiable. Everything else is secondary.
Before you apply, confirm the following:
Federal district court admission is a plus but not required to start. You can add federal court admissions to your profile after initial approval.
The application takes approximately 10 minutes. You'll create your attorney profile and tell us where you can work and what you're comfortable covering.
You can update your availability, radius, and preferences at any time from your dashboard. Nothing in the profile is locked after approval.
After you submit your application, CourtCounsel.AI runs automated bar status lookups against all 50 state bar databases and federal district court admission rolls. You don't need to submit anything — the system checks your bar number against official records.
If verification flags an issue (name discrepancy, outdated database record), a member of the CourtCounsel team will reach out within one business day to resolve it manually.
Once verified, you'll receive an email with a link to complete your Stripe direct deposit setup. This is a standard Stripe Connect onboarding — it takes about 3 minutes and requires your bank account and routing numbers.
CourtCounsel.AI retains a platform fee from the client-side payment. The fee shown in your offer is your net payout — no further deductions apply.
Once your Stripe setup is complete, you're live. Requests start coming in based on your availability windows, geographic radius, and practice area preferences. Each request includes the full details before you commit.
Set conservative availability windows when you start. You can always expand. A no-show on an accepted gig is the only behavior that affects your standing on the platform.
The day of the hearing, you show up at the courthouse with the case brief. You carry out the proceeding as a licensed attorney — professionally, competently, within the scope defined in the brief. Then you file your outcome report, and Stripe does the rest.
The outcome report is a structured form — not a narrative essay. It takes 5–10 minutes to complete on your phone immediately after the hearing while details are fresh.
The requirements are intentionally minimal. This is about making qualified attorneys accessible quickly, not creating bureaucratic barriers for legitimate practitioners.
Apply in 10 minutes. Bar verification completes in 24–48 hours. Your first gig could be this week — no overhead, no retainer clients, no marketing required.