After the first year of the pandemic, many law firms doubled down on areas of strength, going deep instead of broad to add market share and bolster their “known-for” offerings.

But even bread-and-butter practices aren’t always at their peak, and in order to stay a step ahead of the market, firms often must keep trying to build them up anyway. Analysts and legal industry observers say firms have recently stocked up in bankruptcy, white-collar work and general litigation, anticipating an upward swing in these practices alongside a potential slump in the larger economy.