1. Start with the geography your firm actually serves
The 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimate records 48,491 people in San Luis Obispo city, with a margin of error of 43. The record places the city in San Luis Obispo County. That is useful location context, not evidence of legal demand, search volume, competition or likely case volume. Attribution should therefore avoid collapsing “San Luis Obispo” into a presumed market. A visitor from the city, a person elsewhere in San Luis Obispo County and someone outside the county may represent different service-area decisions.
Recommended approach
At the consultation, define the geographic distinctions that matter to your intake and reporting. Review whether landing pages, intake answers or matter records identify the service area consistently enough to compare city activity with broader county activity. Treat geography as a field to examine, not as proof that a particular location produces clients.
