Emily Smith and two colleagues are considering opening a law office in a large metropolitan area that would make inexpensive legal

services available to those who could not otherwise afford services. The intent is to provide easy access for their clients by having the

office open $360$ days per year, $16$ hours each day from $7$:$00$ a$.$m$.$ to $11$:$00$ p$.$m$.$ The office would be staffed by a lawyer, paralegal, legal

secretary$,$ and clerk$-$receptionist for each of the two eight$-$hour shifts.

In order to determine the feasibility of the project, Smith hired a marketing consultant to assist with market projections. The results of

this study show that if the firm spends $$995,000$ on advertising the first year, the number of new clients expected each day will be $53.$

Smith believes this number is reasonable and is prepared to spend the $$995,000$ on advertising. Other pertinent information about

the operation of the office follows:

The only charge to each new client would be $$63$ for the initial consultation. All cases that warrant further legal work will be

accepted on a contingency basis with the firm earning $30$ percent of any favorable settlements or judgments. Smith estimates that

$20$ percent of new client consultations will result in favorable settlements or judgments averaging $$4,300$ each. It is not expected

that there will be repeat clients during the first year of operations.

The hourly wages of the staff are projected to be $$53$ for the lawyer, $$43$ for the paralegal, $$33$ for the legal secretary$,$ and $$23$ for

the clerk$-$receptionist. Fringe benefit expense will be $40$ percent of the wages paid. A total of $460$ hours of overtime is expected for

the year; this will be divided equally between the legal secretary and the clerk$-$receptionist positions. Overtime will be paid at one

and one$-$half times the regular wage, and the fringe benefit expense will apply to the full wage.

Smith has located $6,000$ square feet of suitable office space that rents for $$59$ per square foot annually. Associated expenses will

be $$55,500$ for property insurance and $$76,400$ for utilities.

It will be necessary for the group to purchase malpractice insurance, which is expected to cost $$363,000$ annually.

The initial investment in the office equipment will be $$123,000.$ This equipment has an estimated useful life of four years.

The cost of office supplies has been estimated to be $$11$ per expected new client consultation.

Required:

Determine how many new clients must visit the law office being considered by Smith and his colleagues in order for the venture to

break even during its first year of operations.

Note: Round your final answer up to the next whole number.

Compute the law firm's safety margin.

Note: Round your final answer to the nearest whole number.

Number of new clients to break even

Safety margin