For the first time in 10 years, in-house legal departments have reduced their overall legal spending, according to survey results released Tuesday by Hildebrandt Baker Robbins.

The survey showed a decrease in total legal spending — by 1 percent in the U.S. and 2 percent worldwide — between 2008 and 2009. Over the previous nine years, the survey showed U.S. increases averaging 7 percent per year.