Increased Legal Spending Under DeSantis Fuels Growth of Conservative Law Firms in Florida

During Governor Ron DeSantis’ first term, Florida’s legal budget witnessed a substantial increase, reaching a total of $123 million. This figure significantly surpasses the legal spending of $86 million under his predecessor, now-Senator Rick Scott. The increased budget has enabled a surge of conservative boutique law firms in Tallahassee, as these firms have been the primary recipients of state contracts. These contracts predominantly involve maintaining and defending controversial laws associated with the state’s cultural policies. State data indicates that DeSantis’ administration is poised to continue this trend with boutique firms receiving a major portion of contract dollars. For further details, the original analysis can be read here.