Credit: Ameer/Adobe StockAm Law 50's Head Count 'Holding Pattern' Could Trickle Down
Head count growth at top 50 firms has lagged behind other segments in Big Law. But that could change in the near future.
January 09, 2025 at 06:00 AM
5 minute read
What You Need to Know
- Lawyer head count growth at top 50 firms diverged from the rest of the legal industry at the start of 2023.
- Second 50 and Second Hundred firms have grown lawyer head count 5% or more since that same time, but the success of the top 50 could inspire those firms to follow their path.
Top 50 firms have diverged significantly from the rest of the industry over the last two years when it comes to total lawyer growth, with multiple rounds of head count trimming that resulted in less than 1% growth since January 2023, according to a new report this week. Meanwhile, Second 50 firms and those firms beyond notched 5% growth or greater during the same timeframe.
But the authors of the 2025 State of the Legal Market Report say don’t be surprised if the rest of the industry begins to follow the top 50—because the strategy is working.
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