Legal Services Market Size
Study Period | 2020 - 2029 |
Market Size (2024) | USD 786.51 Billion |
Market Size (2029) | USD 981.08 Billion |
CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 4.52 % |
Fastest Growing Market | Asia-Pacific |
Largest Market | North America |
Major Players*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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Legal Services Market Analysis
The Legal Services Market size is estimated at USD 786.51 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 981.08 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.52% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
The legal services industry is resilient to both cyclical and seasonal fluctuations, enabling it to grow at a healthy rate. However, it is not immune to the changes and fluctuations that take place in other economic sectors. As the global economy deteriorates, many of the firm's top clients are cutting back on legal spending in an attempt to become more cost-effective and profitable. In the years to come, the industry is expected to expand due to the growing use of advanced technology in the provision of legal services. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the legal industry (Al). AI-powered software has been instrumental in saving time for law firms and legal professionals. Automated document generation and review processes are more effective when using AI-driven technologies. Furthermore, team collaboration tools may help to simplify documentation methods further. These technological advances and discoveries benefit legal professionals by reducing costs and improving comfort.
Legal services include dedicated law firms as well as in-house legal teams. The industry is mainly concentrated in developed countries, with the United States accounting for nearly half of the global market share and Europe accounting for just over a quarter. However, Asian market growth is projected to outpace North American and European growth over the next few years. Some experts attribute this to the growth of the Chinese market as well as the growing trend of outsourcing legal services to lower-cost countries, in particular, India. Additionally, the increasing demand for transaction practice areas, the growth of the legal IT industry, and globalization will continue to grow in the future of the legal services business (Al). However, rising prices and decreasing margins, insufficient transparency and consistency in service quality, security issues, and a decrease in free trade may impede future growth.
Moreover, in the post-COVID-19 era, the delivery of legal services has changed in many ways, from the structure of teams to the way they work and the structure of systems and tools to support the provision of legal services. Businesses rely more and more on technology and systems and processes to do simple things like find and analyze legal contracts quickly and effectively, as opposed to relying on their internal or external lawyers’ human capital.
Legal Services Market Trends
The Prevalence of Security Breaches in Law Firms is on the Rise.
Law firms are one of the industries that are having a hard time staying competitive in today's cyber world. Law firms have a significant amount of sensitive information regarding their clients, not only in terms of personal data but also in terms of other sensitive information, such as confidential corporate data, trade secrets, M&A data, medical data, and more. So, if a law firm is hacked, the firm’s reputation and revenue are at risk, particularly if data is compromised. For instance, global weekly cyberattacks increased by 7 percent in the first three months of the current year compared to the same period last year. On average, organizations endured 1,248 cyberattacks per week in the first quarter of this year. A law firm or an insurance provider was targeted in one in every 40 cyberattacks. According to an American Bar Association survey conducted last year, more than one-quarter of law firms reported a data breach, a 2 percent increase from the previous year. Therefore, as law firms handle vast amounts of confidential client data, information, and money, they’ve become an attractive target for hackers over the years. However, many businesses have “understandably weak information security policies and procedures.”
Rise in Legal Technology Use by Law Firms is Driving the Market Growth
Law firms are increasingly embracing a range of technologies to offer legal services at a lower cost, more efficiently, and to a higher standard. Law firms are heavily reliant on a variety of technologies, including in-house software, cloud technology, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, Word processors, e-discovery systems, time tracking and billing technology, blockchain-based smart contracts, payment solutions, augmented and virtual reality, and more. These technologies have enabled lawyers and law firms to digitize the processes associated with providing legal services, leading to improved accessibility and quality. AI has the potential to transform the legal system, as it can be used to analyze large amounts of data, predict the outcome of cases, facilitate communication between lawyers and clients, automate e-discovery processes, simplify case management, leverage analytics, create online communities, and bring more transparency. Additionally, AI-powered language translation facilities can be used in court proceedings to facilitate real-time translation.
Legal Services Industry Overview
The report covers major international players operating in the legal services industry like Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Baker McKenzie, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and Clifford Chance, among others. In terms of market share, few major players currently dominate the market. However, with technological advancements and innovation, mid-size to smaller companies are increasing their market presence by securing new contracts and tapping new markets.
Legal Services Market Leaders
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Kirkland & Ellis LLP
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Latham & Watkins LLP
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Baker McKenzie
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Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
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Clifford Chance
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Legal Services Market News
- February 2023: Latham & Watkins Advises on Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.’s USD 32.5 million Public Offering of Common Stock. Tactile Systems Technology is a medical technology company focused on developing medical devices for the treatment of patients with underserved chronic diseases at home.
- October 2022: Kirkland & Ellis advised Nordic Capital, a leading European private equity investor, on the recently closed Nordic Capital Fund XI. The fund was closed at its hard cap with aggregate capital commitments of EUR 9 billion (USD 9497115000). The fund was to focus on buyouts in Nordic Capital’s focus sectors of healthcare, technology and payments, and financial services, as well as selectively in industrial and business services. The fundraising exceeded its EUR 8 billion (USD 8441176000) target and was raised in nine months.
Legal Services Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS AND INSIGHTS
- 4.1 Market Overview
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4.2 Market Drivers
- 4.2.1 Digitalization and Widespread use of Technology to Boost the Market Growth
- 4.2.2 Usage of Legal Library Applications
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4.3 Market Restraints
- 4.3.1 Rising Prices as well as Shrinking Margins Impede the Legal Services Market Growth
- 4.3.2 Lack of Skilled Workforce and Pressure from In-House Teams may Hamper the Market Growth
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4.4 Market Oppurtunities
- 4.4.1 Rising Civil Legal Services Around the World
- 4.4.2 Adoption of Advanced Technologies in Legal Services
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4.5 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.5.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.5.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
- 4.5.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.5.4 Threat of Substitutes
- 4.5.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
- 4.6 Insight on Various Government Regulation Shaping the Market
- 4.7 Insight on Technological Innovation in the Market
- 4.8 Impact of COVID-19 on the Market
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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5.1 By End User
- 5.1.1 Legal Aid Consumers
- 5.1.2 Private Consumers
- 5.1.3 SMEs
- 5.1.4 Charities
- 5.1.5 Large Businesses
- 5.1.6 Government
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5.2 By Application
- 5.2.1 Corporate, Financial, and Commercial Law
- 5.2.2 Personal Injury
- 5.2.3 Commercial and Residential Property
- 5.2.4 Wills, Trusts, and Probate
- 5.2.5 Family Law
- 5.2.6 Employment Law
- 5.2.7 Criminal Law
- 5.2.8 Other Applications
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5.3 By Service
- 5.3.1 Representation
- 5.3.2 Taxation
- 5.3.3 Litigation
- 5.3.4 Bankruptcy
- 5.3.5 Advice
- 5.3.6 Notarial Activities
- 5.3.7 Research
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5.4 By Geography
- 5.4.1 North America
- 5.4.2 Europe
- 5.4.3 Asia-Pacific
- 5.4.4 South America
- 5.4.5 Middle East and Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Market Concentration Overview
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6.2 Company Profiles
- 6.2.1 Kirkland & Ellis LLP
- 6.2.2 Latham & Watkins LLP
- 6.2.3 Baker McKenzie
- 6.2.4 Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
- 6.2.5 Clifford Chance
- 6.2.6 DLA Piper
- 6.2.7 Allen & Overy
- 6.2.8 White & Case
- 6.2.9 Sidley Austin
- 6.2.10 Norton Rose*
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
8. DISCLAIMER AND ABOUT US
Legal Services Industry Segmentation
Legal services include representation, advice, notarial activities, and research-related services. Law firms are operating as legal cells for big corporate firms and offering services to individuals. A complete background analysis of the legal services market, including the assessment of the economy and contribution of the sectors in the economy, market overview, market size estimation for key segments and emerging trends in the market segments, market dynamics and insights, along with key statistics, is covered in the report. The legal services market is segmented by end users (legal aid consumers, private consumers, SMEs, charities, large businesses, and government), by application (corporate, financial and commercial law, personal injury, commercial and residential property, wills, trusts, probates, family law, employment law, criminal law, and other applications), by services (representation, taxation, litigation, bankruptcy, advice, notarial activities, and research), and by geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East). The report offers market size and forecast values for the legal services market in USD for the above segments.
By End User | Legal Aid Consumers |
Private Consumers | |
SMEs | |
Charities | |
Large Businesses | |
Government | |
By Application | Corporate, Financial, and Commercial Law |
Personal Injury | |
Commercial and Residential Property | |
Wills, Trusts, and Probate | |
Family Law | |
Employment Law | |
Criminal Law | |
Other Applications | |
By Service | Representation |
Taxation | |
Litigation | |
Bankruptcy | |
Advice | |
Notarial Activities | |
Research | |
By Geography | North America |
Europe | |
Asia-Pacific | |
South America | |
Middle East and Africa |
Legal Services Market Research Faqs
How big is the Legal Services Market?
The Legal Services Market size is expected to reach USD 786.51 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.52% to reach USD 981.08 billion by 2029.
What is the current Legal Services Market size?
In 2024, the Legal Services Market size is expected to reach USD 786.51 billion.
Who are the key players in Legal Services Market?
Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, Baker McKenzie, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Clifford Chance are the major companies operating in the Legal Services Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Legal Services Market?
Asia-Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Legal Services Market?
In 2024, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Legal Services Market.
What years does this Legal Services Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Legal Services Market size was estimated at USD 750.96 billion. The report covers the Legal Services Market historical market size for years: 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Legal Services Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Who are the major end users of the Legal Services Market?
The major end users of the Legal Services Market are a) Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) b) Charities and Non-profit Organizations c) Large businesses and Individuals d) Government Agencies
What are the future opportunities for the Legal Services Market?
The future opportunities for the Legal Services Market are a) Growing demand for specialized legal expertise b) Increased demand for Cross-border legal services c) Greater emphasis on legal tech adoption
Legal Services Industry Report
The global legal services market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, driven by the increasing adoption of advanced technologies and several macroeconomic factors. Businesses are increasingly employing Alternate Legal Service Providers (ALSPs) for high-demand legal services such as contract management, document review, and litigation support. The corporate segment led the market, driven by the increasing complexity of business regulations. The litigation segment also held a considerable revenue share due to the growing demand for litigation services to help resolve disputes. Large firms dominated the global market due to their diversified range of services, while the small law firms segment is expected to witness significant growth. North America accounted for a significant revenue share, while Asia Pacific is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. The integration of AI systems for drafting website content is propelling legal services industry growth by significantly enhancing efficiency and client engagement. The increasing demand for intellectual property protection is majorly driving the legal services industry demand. However, cybersecurity threats pose significant challenges to the legal services market. This market analysis, including market share, size, and revenue growth rate, is provided by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. The analysis includes a market forecast outlook and a historical overview. A sample of this industry analysis is available as a free report PDF download.