Law : Global Trends, Facts and Figures

The law markets consist of legal services, regulatory compliance, and advisory divisions and are among the critical sectors that facilitate global governance, business, and resolution of disputes. The market includes organizational law firms, in-house law, public and private agencies, and independent legal practitioners. This is due to many factors, including changes in regulations, globalization, and the use of technologies that have allowed the legal profession to be agile over time.

The international legal services market was approximately worth $900 billion as of 2023 and is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of about 5 percent. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China comprise the largest legal markets, with many other countries experiencing rapid growth due to their growing demand for corporate and government legal services.


Global Law Industry


Overview

The law markets consist of legal services, regulatory compliance, and advisory divisions and are among the critical sectors that facilitate global governance, business, and resolution of disputes. The market includes organizational law firms, in-house law, public and private agencies, and independent legal practitioners. This is due to many factors, including changes in regulations, globalization, and the use of technologies that have allowed the legal profession to be agile over time.

The international legal services market was approximately worth $900 billion as of 2023 and is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2028 with a compound annual growth rate of about 5 percent. The United States, the United Kingdom, and China comprise the largest legal markets, with many other countries experiencing rapid growth due to their growing demand for corporate and government legal services.

Types & Definition

The law industry is the business of providing legal services to clients, which include representation, consulting, regulatory compliance, and society's dispute resolution. It is referred to as the legal industry. The industry encompasses the practice of law in personal law firms, government law offices, or law departments within companies.

Non-Criminal or Civil Law refers to the legal framework that governs non-criminal issues, such as contracts, properties, or family issues.
Criminal law is a state-enforced law for social wrongs that indirectly affect society.
A legal system known as interpretative law aims to allocate resources within a specific society, regardless of time or place.
Lawmaking involves the establishment of policies and principles for the nation and its government.
International law constitutes such a traditional legal order in the relationship of states and other institutions that belong in the relationship of these states.
Any agreements between two or more parties that force them to stop or change their behavior based on the terms of an agreed upon instrument are called improvements in business law.

 

Industry Trends

The use of legal process outsourcing (hence LPO) is on the rise, which will help businesses cut back on their incurring expenses.
The currently existing trend of cybersecurity and data privacy laws is being observed to have increased; this has resulted in legal sector growth in that area.
Moreover, blockchain and smart contracts influence the reinterpretation of contract law and the resolution of disputes.
Most importantly, the emphasis on new diversity and inclusion measures is now permeating the legal profession.
Trade and economic relations among countries have enhanced cross-border legal services.

Facts & Insights

Legal technology has begun to revolutionize the process of conducting research, drafting, and reviewing documents in law practices.
Legal technology has significantly reduced the costs of alternative legal service providers.
The capacity of legal services carried out remotely has increased after the pandemic by removing barriers and making the system more efficient.
Developments in climate change and environmental social and governance laws are forcing attorneys' strategies around the world to incorporate some of the above policies.
Traditional artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing case law analysis and due diligence.

Market Segment

1. Corporate or Big Law Firms: International law firms that have multinational operations and handle issues regarding corporations, finance, and litigation, among others.
2. Small Firms or Boutique Law Firms: Highly focused, usually small and more manageable firms addressing highly specialized legal domains.
3. Individual Practice or Solo Practitioners: Attorneys who are self-employed and cater to the needs of small businesses and individual clients.
4. Internal Legal Department or In-House Counsel: Teams of legal experts working for companies to deal with their legal matters.
5. State and Public Service Law: Particularly, institutions and agencies that provide services related to the administration of justice and regulatory agencies.

Industry Leader

Kirkland & Ellis LLP: highly specialized in corporate transactions and private equity deals.
Latham & Watkins LLP: a very significant global law firm in size and scope, practicing in the largest sectors and markets.
DLA Piper: a global law firm with an emphasis on litigation, regulatory, and other legal consultancy.
Baker McKenzie: holds leadership positions in international transactions and compliance issues.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP: an industry leader in merger and acquisition litigation.


Frequently Asked Questions

That is thanks to changing regulations, globalization, developments in legal technology, and corporations' ever-increasing need for the services of lawyers.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and databases help in research, law constraining, and management of contracts and cases.
The problem with traditional law firms is the high cost of operation, complex regulations, and ever-growing ALSPs.
An increase in the use of LegalTech, improvement in the provision of services to clients, and diversification of the legal profession to address new legal challenges.