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30 lawyer statistics every law firm should be aware of

lawyer statistics
By Drazen Vujovic. Reviewed by: James Rose. Last Updated January 10, 2025
How many lawyers are there? Law firm statistics

Lawyers are the heart and soul of the justice system because they bring laws to life, uphold justice, and safeguard individual rights. But what does the legal profession look like by the numbers?

In this post, we’ll explore the most important lawyer statistics to reveal everything from employment trends and demographic data to income averages and industry growth. Let’s break down the numbers and see what they reveal about the legal profession.

General stats about the legal sector

Let’s dive into big-picture numbers, so you can quickly figure out the scope and impact of law firms and the legal sector as a whole.

1. The global legal services market size is estimated at $1,052 billion in 2024 (Grand View Research)

The industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2025 to 2030. In other words, it should reach nearly $1,370 billion in 2030. 

2. The United States is the world’s largest legal marketplace with a value of nearly $400 billion (Legal.io)

In such circumstances, it’s natural to see US law firms holding the majority of spots in the global 200 rankings.

3. The largest law firm in the world is Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Investopedia) 

This US-based firm employs over 3,500 people and generates more than $7 billion a year.

4. Israel has the highest density at about 694 lawyers per 100,000 people (World Population Review)

This country has a population of 9.7 million and more than 64,000 lawyers.  

Lawyers by numbers and demographics

Who are the people behind the profession? The following numbers will provide insights into the diversity and representation in law.

5. There are more than 1.3 million active lawyers in the US (Hennessey)

This is 3.2% more compared to 2014. A quarter of all legal professionals are based in New York and California. 

6. The median age for lawyers in the US is 46 (American Bar Association)

By comparison, the median age of all US workers is 42.1, which is nearly four years younger.

7. Slightly more lawyers (51.5%) in the US are women (Zippia)

The most common ethnicity of lawyers is White (76%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.7%), Asian (6.3%), Black or African American (5.4%), and others.

law firm diversity

8. Australia currently has over 90,000 practicing lawyers (Yegal) 

The number is on the rise as there used to be 57,000 and 71,000 lawyers in the country in 2011 and 2016, respectively. 

9. More than a million legal professionals are currently active in Europe (Statista) 

Nearly a quarter of those (247K) work in Italy. Other major legal service markets include Germany (165K), the UK (152K), and Spain (149K). 

Job outlook and salaries

This section examines employment trends, future growth projections, and what lawyers can expect to earn. If you’re looking for a snapshot of career opportunities in the legal profession, this is where you’ll find it.

10. A typical lawyer in the US makes $145,760 per year or $70 per hour (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the employment of lawyers is estimated to grow by 5% from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 35,600 new jobs for lawyers should open each year.

11. The average annual salary for lawyer jobs in Australia ranges from $95,000 to $115,000 (Seek)

The range is quite broad, but it reflects the diversity of roles and experience levels within the legal profession. Entry-level lawyers or those in smaller firms often fall toward the lower end, while experienced attorneys — particularly in specialized fields or larger firms — are likely to earn closer to the upper limit.

12. The average lawyer salary in Canada is approximately $105,000 per year (Instarem) 

On the other hand, German lawyers typically make $75,000 annually, while their colleagues in the UK earn about $63,000. 

13. Less than a quarter of law degree holders strongly agree that their education was worth the cost (Gallup)

In addition, only 20% of law degree holders believe that education prepared them well for life outside of graduate school. In comparison, this is 30 percentage points lower than medical degree holders.

14. On the other hand, nearly two-thirds of attorneys (63%) believe they are fairly compensated for their work (Martindale) 

There is still a slight difference in satisfaction between genders, with men reporting satisfaction at 65% and women at 60%.

15. More than three-quarters of law firms spend less than 10 hours a week on non-billable activities (Martindale)

On the downside, 20% of attorneys spend more than 10 hours on non-billable tasks, while 4% spend over 20 hours a week on such activities. 

solo law firms and legal career stats

16. The average realization and collection rates among solo and small firms are 86% and 90%, respectively (Clio) 

Consequently, this means that solo and small firms aren’t invoicing 14% of billable hours to their clients, and that 10% of billed amounts aren’t being collected at all.

17. Almost 80% of law firms prefer an hourly rate billing structure (Martindale) 

Hourly billing is particularly prevalent among legal practices serving businesses (89%). On the other hand, fixed fee billing is more common among solo practitioners (60%) than employed attorneys (35%).

18. In cases involving contingency fees, such as personal injury claims, lawyers typically charge between 25% and 40% of the settlement amount (Esplin Weight) 

The exact percentage may vary based on the case’s complexity and jurisdiction. 

Law firm software stats

Technology is transforming how lawyers work, so let’s investigate the most important statistics on how legal tech is being adopted and which tools are most popular.

19. The global legal tech market is projected to generate revenues of over $31 billion in 2024 (Statista)

This industry has been increasing steadily for years and its revenues should grow well over $35 billion in 2027.

20. Almost all law firms surveyed (95%) claim that implementing technology has made them more responsive to client needs (AAG)

In addition, 84% of firms have reduced the delivery time of services by implementing new technologies.

21. Despite strong awareness of the need to invest, only 24% of small firm lawyers have any actual plans to implement new technology in the next 12 months (LexisNexis)

There’s a gap between recognizing the importance of innovation and taking action, which suggests that small firm lawyers often face barriers like cost, time, or uncertainty in adopting new technology.

22. According to the American Bar Association, 38% of solo practitioners report using case management software (American Bar Association)

As for attorneys practicing in small firms, 47% of them report using this type of software.

23. Just over a third (37%) of law firms in the UK say they are currently using legal technology, with a further 24% planning to do so in the future (SRA)

The main reasons firms introduce new technologies are to improve service quality (72%), increase efficiency (71%), or allow staff to work more flexibly (44%).

24. Client satisfaction rates can increase by up to 30% when law firms provide 24/7 access to case files through secure client portals (Verify365)

Providing round-the-clock access to case files through secure client portals shows how simple tech solutions can significantly improve the client experience.

Miscellaneous lawyer statistics and facts 

From surprising trivia to niche data points, this section gathers fascinating stats and facts that don’t quite fit anywhere else. 

25. Over 80% of all attorneys' private practice is employed by relatively small firms of up to 50 attorneys (Medium)

Contrary to the common perception of attorneys working in large corporate firms, the vast majority actually work for small practices.

26. The first woman in US history to become a lawyer was an Iowan named Arabella Mansfield (Infotrack) 

She had to sue the State Bar of Iowa in order to sit for its bar exam – a privilege that had been exclusively reserved for males. Born in 1844, Ms. Mansfield passed the bar exam and was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1869.

27. Some lawyers specialize in fairly strange niche fields like space law, fashion law, or animal rights law (LewPrepTutorial) 

These specialized areas deal with unique legal challenges, such as satellite regulations or pet custody battles, and it goes to show the wide variety of legal practice areas.

28. More than 80% of people looking for a lawyer ask for referrals (TopLawSchoolConsulting) 

Although online searches are growing, the overwhelming reliance on referrals shows how much trust and personal recommendations still shape the decision to hire a lawyer.

29. High-profile attorneys can earn as much as $2,400 hourly (GoRemotely)

The earning potential at the top of the legal profession is mind-bending, but it's far from the norm for most attorneys.

30. In 1994, the jury awarded Stella Liebeck nearly $3 million after she accidentally spilled hot McDonald’s coffee in her lap and suffered severe burns (Wikipedia)

The court found McDonald's liable for serving coffee at an excessively high temperature that posed a foreseeable risk of harm.

Use these numbers to your advantage

The purpose of lawyer statistics isn’t just to know the numbers, but rather to use them as a basis for making smarter business decisions. That’s why we encourage you to use these figures to position yourself strategically — whether it’s choosing a specialization, negotiating a salary, or preparing for the future of law.

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Drazen Vujovic

Dražen Vujović is a journalist and content writer. More importantly, he is a father of two and a long-distance runner.

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