"... In the real world Slater and Gordon are kicking ****..."
i.e. losing money, closing offices, shedding staff and surrendering market share.
S+G is pretty much a laughing stock in the legal industry (in Oz and the UK). And as for your claim tht theyre 'at the front of the pack', that's hillarious. They cater to the very low end of the market and attract bottom tier talent.