1. Define the geographic scope before discussing budget
Carlinville is recorded as a municipality in Macoupin County. Those are different geographic relationships: a Carlinville city page, a Macoupin County service area and a broader Illinois coverage decision should not be treated as interchangeable. The population estimate for Carlinville is eligibility context only. It cannot tell you how many people search for a lawyer, how many firms compete, or how many inquiries an advertisement would produce. Your first decision is therefore operational: which locations can the firm actually serve, and which locations should be considered for each practice area?
Recommended approach
Bring a written service-area map to the consultation. Separate Carlinville from Macoupin County and any other Illinois locations you serve. Then decide whether the review should examine one practice area across those locations or several practice areas with different boundaries.
