New Jersey’s legal economy continued on a path of cautious expansion in 1999, as the state’s bellwether firms added lawyers at a modest 3 percent rate.

A Law Journal survey of growth and attrition at 33 firms found that 17 increased their number of lawyers, 11 declined and five stayed flat. Overall, the surveyed firms grew by a net 77 attorneys, for an average of 2.3 lawyers per firm.