In 2024, the legal industry witnessed significant growth in attorney head count among the 500 largest law firms in the United States. According to data from the National Law Journal 500 (NLJ 500), the total number of attorneys rose by 5.5% compared to 2023. Additionally, the average firm size in this cohort increased by 5.6%, rising from 376 to 396 attorneys.
Despite the previous year’s increase, there is uncertainty about whether such growth will continue in 2025. The 2024 expansion in head count aligned with a surge in legal industry revenue, suggesting a response to heightened demand for legal services. As firms reassess their strategies, maintaining such momentum could prove challenging this year.