THE FIRM puts you behind the desk of a lawyer, from your very first client to the head of your own firm.
The idea
Every case begins with a person.
You meet clients through dialogue-driven consultations, decide which matters to accept, choose your fees, investigate facts, read documents, research the law, prepare witnesses, negotiate settlements and, when necessary, go to court.
The goal is not simply to “win cases.” You also have to build a sustainable legal career. Take too many files and you drown in workload. Refuse too many and the practice runs out of money. Grow too quickly and payroll becomes a threat of its own.
What is in the demo?
The playtest demo covers three years and includes:
- Client consultations built around branching conversations and limited time.
- Case selection: accept, refuse, refer or take matters pro bono.
- Fee setting and different fee arrangements.
- Case preparation through fact analysis, evidence, case-law research and witness preparation.
- Documents and evidence delivered through your inbox, including contradictions you may need to identify yourself.
- Settlement negotiation using the logic of offers, risk and BATNA before deciding whether to litigate.
- Courtroom proceedings before judges and, where the legal system allows it, juries.
- Practice management: office costs, assistants, paralegals, cash flow and growth decisions.
- Personal life, relationships and burnout alongside the legal career.
- 12 cities with 12 simplified legal systems, inspired by differences in real-world procedure and regulation.
- Three starting modes: solo founder, career in an established firm, or direct firm management.
The game runs directly in your browser, is available in English and French, and saves locally on your device.
Early days
THE FIRM is the youngest ALBEUS project. Some elements are still placeholders, and that is intentional at this stage.
If the concept speaks to you, tell me which part you want more of: the cases, courtroom work, client relationships, firm management, career progression or the life outside the office. That feedback will decide where development time goes.
— Joocks, ALBEUS