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Size of the US Legal Services industry

NAICS 5411, Legal Services. Every figure on this page was published by a federal statistical agency and carries its source and period. Palanor does not estimate: a period the agency didn’t publish shows as missing, and a figure it withheld shows as withheld.

Key figures

Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)
$375 billion
2022 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Value added (GDP by industry)
$422 billion
2025 · GDP by Industry
Current dollars
Revenue, not seasonally adjusted
$115 billion
2026-Q2 · Quarterly Services Survey
Employer firms, current dollars
Employment
1,222,965
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter
Establishments
214,737
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private ownership
Firms
168,337
2022 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Revenue, seasonally adjusted · Quarterly Services SurveyLatest $118 billion · 2026-Q2
2003-Q4: $48.8 billion2004-Q1: $49.1 billion2004-Q2: $51.4 billion2004-Q3: $52.6 billion2004-Q4: $53.6 billion2005-Q1: $54.7 billion2005-Q2: $54.2 billion2005-Q3: $53.2 billion2005-Q4: $54.3 billion2006-Q1: $54.1 billion2006-Q2: $56.1 billion2006-Q3: $57.2 billion2006-Q4: $59.6 billion2007-Q1: $61.4 billion2007-Q2: $58.7 billion2007-Q3: $58.7 billion2007-Q4: $60.8 billion2008-Q1: $60.4 billion2008-Q2: $62.9 billion2008-Q3: $62.3 billion2008-Q4: $60.8 billion2009-Q1: $59.8 billion2009-Q2: $60.2 billion2009-Q3: $61.0 billion2009-Q4: $59.8 billion2010-Q1: $61.5 billion2010-Q2: $60.4 billion2010-Q3: $62.1 billion2010-Q4: $61.5 billion2011-Q1: $63.5 billion2011-Q2: $64.3 billion2011-Q3: $64.0 billion2011-Q4: $63.3 billion2012-Q1: $68.0 billion2012-Q2: $65.3 billion2012-Q3: $63.0 billion2012-Q4: $65.2 billion2013-Q1: $61.3 billion2013-Q2: $65.4 billion2013-Q3: $65.6 billion2013-Q4: $67.2 billion2014-Q1: $64.5 billion2014-Q2: $65.0 billion2014-Q3: $68.0 billion2014-Q4: $66.7 billion2015-Q1: $66.1 billion2015-Q2: $68.6 billion2015-Q3: $71.2 billion2015-Q4: $67.3 billion2016-Q1: $68.9 billion2016-Q2: $68.8 billion2016-Q3: $68.8 billion2016-Q4: $72.4 billion2017-Q1: $74.1 billion2017-Q2: $74.7 billion2017-Q3: $72.9 billion2017-Q4: $75.9 billion2018-Q1: $73.0 billion2018-Q2: $76.2 billion2018-Q3: $75.3 billion2018-Q4: $74.9 billion2019-Q1: $74.9 billion2019-Q2: $75.6 billion2019-Q3: $78.9 billion2019-Q4: $80.0 billion2020-Q1: $80.5 billion2020-Q2: $75.1 billion2020-Q3: $77.0 billion2020-Q4: $81.6 billion2021-Q1: $86.8 billion2021-Q2: $80.8 billion2021-Q3: $86.1 billion2021-Q4: $89.1 billion2022-Q1: $90.8 billion2022-Q2: $90.2 billion2022-Q3: $92.0 billion2022-Q4: $90.3 billion2023-Q1: $92.8 billion2023-Q2: $92.8 billion2023-Q3: $92.3 billion2023-Q4: $96.2 billion2024-Q1: $96.6 billion2024-Q2: $103 billion2024-Q3: $102 billion2024-Q4: $103 billion2025-Q1: $104 billion2025-Q2: $108 billion2025-Q3: $115 billion2025-Q4: $118 billion2026-Q1: $119 billion2026-Q2: $118 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-Q2$118 billion
2026-Q1$119 billion
2025-Q4$118 billion
2025-Q3$115 billion
2025-Q2$108 billion
2025-Q1$104 billion
2024-Q4$103 billion
2024-Q3$102 billion
2024-Q2$103 billion
2024-Q1$96.6 billion
2023-Q4$96.2 billion
2023-Q3$92.3 billion
2023-Q2$92.8 billion
2023-Q1$92.8 billion
2022-Q4$90.3 billion
2022-Q3$92.0 billion
2022-Q2$90.2 billion
2022-Q1$90.8 billion
2021-Q4$89.1 billion
2021-Q3$86.1 billion
2021-Q2$80.8 billion
2021-Q1$86.8 billion
2020-Q4$81.6 billion
2020-Q3$77.0 billion
2020-Q2$75.1 billion
2020-Q1$80.5 billion
2019-Q4$80.0 billion
2019-Q3$78.9 billion
2019-Q2$75.6 billion
2019-Q1$74.9 billion
2018-Q4$74.9 billion
2018-Q3$75.3 billion
2018-Q2$76.2 billion
2018-Q1$73.0 billion
2017-Q4$75.9 billion
2017-Q3$72.9 billion
2017-Q2$74.7 billion
2017-Q1$74.1 billion
2016-Q4$72.4 billion
2016-Q3$68.8 billion
2016-Q2$68.8 billion
2016-Q1$68.9 billion
2015-Q4$67.3 billion
2015-Q3$71.2 billion
2015-Q2$68.6 billion
2015-Q1$66.1 billion
2014-Q4$66.7 billion
2014-Q3$68.0 billion
2014-Q2$65.0 billion
2014-Q1$64.5 billion
2013-Q4$67.2 billion
2013-Q3$65.6 billion
2013-Q2$65.4 billion
2013-Q1$61.3 billion
2012-Q4$65.2 billion
2012-Q3$63.0 billion
2012-Q2$65.3 billion
2012-Q1$68.0 billion
2011-Q4$63.3 billion
2011-Q3$64.0 billion
2011-Q2$64.3 billion
2011-Q1$63.5 billion
2010-Q4$61.5 billion
2010-Q3$62.1 billion
2010-Q2$60.4 billion
2010-Q1$61.5 billion
2009-Q4$59.8 billion
2009-Q3$61.0 billion
2009-Q2$60.2 billion
2009-Q1$59.8 billion
2008-Q4$60.8 billion
2008-Q3$62.3 billion
2008-Q2$62.9 billion
2008-Q1$60.4 billion
2007-Q4$60.8 billion
2007-Q3$58.7 billion
2007-Q2$58.7 billion
2007-Q1$61.4 billion
2006-Q4$59.6 billion
2006-Q3$57.2 billion
2006-Q2$56.1 billion
2006-Q1$54.1 billion
2005-Q4$54.3 billion
2005-Q3$53.2 billion
2005-Q2$54.2 billion
2005-Q1$54.7 billion
2004-Q4$53.6 billion
2004-Q3$52.6 billion
2004-Q2$51.4 billion
2004-Q1$49.1 billion
2003-Q4$48.8 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Services Survey · Employer firms, current dollars · Agency label: Legal Services

Value added, seasonally adjusted annual rate · GDP by IndustryLatest $446 billion · 2026-Q1
2005-Q1: $192 billion2005-Q2: $194 billion2005-Q3: $196 billion2005-Q4: $198 billion2006-Q1: $201 billion2006-Q2: $204 billion2006-Q3: $205 billion2006-Q4: $208 billion2007-Q1: $213 billion2007-Q2: $211 billion2007-Q3: $219 billion2007-Q4: $228 billion2008-Q1: $236 billion2008-Q2: $245 billion2008-Q3: $245 billion2008-Q4: $238 billion2009-Q1: $224 billion2009-Q2: $214 billion2009-Q3: $208 billion2009-Q4: $202 billion2010-Q1: $202 billion2010-Q2: $202 billion2010-Q3: $206 billion2010-Q4: $209 billion2011-Q1: $211 billion2011-Q2: $217 billion2011-Q3: $217 billion2011-Q4: $220 billion2012-Q1: $220 billion2012-Q2: $218 billion2012-Q3: $214 billion2012-Q4: $219 billion2013-Q1: $217 billion2013-Q2: $218 billion2013-Q3: $222 billion2013-Q4: $226 billion2014-Q1: $220 billion2014-Q2: $225 billion2014-Q3: $235 billion2014-Q4: $233 billion2015-Q1: $238 billion2015-Q2: $241 billion2015-Q3: $246 billion2015-Q4: $246 billion2016-Q1: $255 billion2016-Q2: $257 billion2016-Q3: $258 billion2016-Q4: $263 billion2017-Q1: $263 billion2017-Q2: $265 billion2017-Q3: $267 billion2017-Q4: $271 billion2018-Q1: $272 billion2018-Q2: $278 billion2018-Q3: $279 billion2018-Q4: $279 billion2019-Q1: $283 billion2019-Q2: $286 billion2019-Q3: $296 billion2019-Q4: $296 billion2020-Q1: $289 billion2020-Q2: $278 billion2020-Q3: $287 billion2020-Q4: $300 billion2021-Q1: $318 billion2021-Q2: $318 billion2021-Q3: $333 billion2021-Q4: $340 billion2022-Q1: $347 billion2022-Q2: $349 billion2022-Q3: $347 billion2022-Q4: $349 billion2023-Q1: $354 billion2023-Q2: $358 billion2023-Q3: $358 billion2023-Q4: $367 billion2024-Q1: $371 billion2024-Q2: $390 billion2024-Q3: $393 billion2024-Q4: $397 billion2025-Q1: $402 billion2025-Q2: $410 billion2025-Q3: $434 billion2025-Q4: $442 billion2026-Q1: $446 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-Q1$446 billion
2025-Q4$442 billion
2025-Q3$434 billion
2025-Q2$410 billion
2025-Q1$402 billion
2024-Q4$397 billion
2024-Q3$393 billion
2024-Q2$390 billion
2024-Q1$371 billion
2023-Q4$367 billion
2023-Q3$358 billion
2023-Q2$358 billion
2023-Q1$354 billion
2022-Q4$349 billion
2022-Q3$347 billion
2022-Q2$349 billion
2022-Q1$347 billion
2021-Q4$340 billion
2021-Q3$333 billion
2021-Q2$318 billion
2021-Q1$318 billion
2020-Q4$300 billion
2020-Q3$287 billion
2020-Q2$278 billion
2020-Q1$289 billion
2019-Q4$296 billion
2019-Q3$296 billion
2019-Q2$286 billion
2019-Q1$283 billion
2018-Q4$279 billion
2018-Q3$279 billion
2018-Q2$278 billion
2018-Q1$272 billion
2017-Q4$271 billion
2017-Q3$267 billion
2017-Q2$265 billion
2017-Q1$263 billion
2016-Q4$263 billion
2016-Q3$258 billion
2016-Q2$257 billion
2016-Q1$255 billion
2015-Q4$246 billion
2015-Q3$246 billion
2015-Q2$241 billion
2015-Q1$238 billion
2014-Q4$233 billion
2014-Q3$235 billion
2014-Q2$225 billion
2014-Q1$220 billion
2013-Q4$226 billion
2013-Q3$222 billion
2013-Q2$218 billion
2013-Q1$217 billion
2012-Q4$219 billion
2012-Q3$214 billion
2012-Q2$218 billion
2012-Q1$220 billion
2011-Q4$220 billion
2011-Q3$217 billion
2011-Q2$217 billion
2011-Q1$211 billion
2010-Q4$209 billion
2010-Q3$206 billion
2010-Q2$202 billion
2010-Q1$202 billion
2009-Q4$202 billion
2009-Q3$208 billion
2009-Q2$214 billion
2009-Q1$224 billion
2008-Q4$238 billion
2008-Q3$245 billion
2008-Q2$245 billion
2008-Q1$236 billion
2007-Q4$228 billion
2007-Q3$219 billion
2007-Q2$211 billion
2007-Q1$213 billion
2006-Q4$208 billion
2006-Q3$205 billion
2006-Q2$204 billion
2006-Q1$201 billion
2005-Q4$198 billion
2005-Q3$196 billion
2005-Q2$194 billion
2005-Q1$192 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP by Industry · Current dollars · Agency label: Legal services

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 1,222,965 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 1,138,8972019-Q2: 1,162,5072019-Q3: 1,147,3652019-Q4: 1,170,8622020-Q1: 1,153,7912020-Q2: 1,125,6502020-Q3: 1,116,5442020-Q4: 1,142,4732021-Q1: 1,136,9652021-Q2: 1,162,5932021-Q3: 1,147,8992021-Q4: 1,177,5922022-Q1: 1,160,8432022-Q2: 1,188,6222022-Q3: 1,173,9892022-Q4: 1,186,9912023-Q1: 1,167,7632023-Q2: 1,198,4232023-Q3: 1,176,0052023-Q4: 1,197,0262024-Q1: 1,182,4722024-Q2: 1,207,2092024-Q3: 1,193,4792024-Q4: 1,214,1402025-Q1: 1,204,2472025-Q2: 1,233,4342025-Q3: 1,215,8872025-Q4: 1,242,5482026-Q1: 1,222,965NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q11,222,9652022
2025-Q41,242,5482022
2025-Q31,215,8872022
2025-Q21,233,4342022
2025-Q11,204,2472022
2024-Q41,214,1402022
2024-Q31,193,4792022
2024-Q21,207,2092022
2024-Q11,182,4722022
2023-Q41,197,0262022
2023-Q31,176,0052022
2023-Q21,198,4232022
2023-Q11,167,7632022
2022-Q41,186,9912022
2022-Q31,173,9892022
2022-Q21,188,6222022
2022-Q11,160,8432022
2021-Q41,177,5922017
2021-Q31,147,8992017
2021-Q21,162,5932017
2021-Q11,136,9652017
2020-Q41,142,4732017
2020-Q31,116,5442017
2020-Q21,125,6502017
2020-Q11,153,7912017
2019-Q41,170,8622017
2019-Q31,147,3652017
2019-Q21,162,5072017
2019-Q11,138,8972017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter

Employment · County Business PatternsLatest 1,190,297 · 2023
2017: 1,153,0492018: 1,148,4832019: 1,149,0952020: 1,161,6742021: 1,144,2832022: 1,183,5932023: 1,190,297
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20231,190,297
20221,183,593
20211,144,283
20201,161,674
20191,149,095
20181,148,483
20171,153,049

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns · Paid employees in the pay period including March 12

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 214,737 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 190,4882019-Q2: 190,6052019-Q3: 191,3872019-Q4: 192,2842020-Q1: 191,6192020-Q2: 192,0682020-Q3: 193,5152020-Q4: 195,3032021-Q1: 194,6772021-Q2: 195,9582021-Q3: 197,9242021-Q4: 199,8482022-Q1: 200,2682022-Q2: 201,8062022-Q3: 203,7982022-Q4: 205,6582023-Q1: 205,9382023-Q2: 206,4072023-Q3: 207,8822023-Q4: 209,4062024-Q1: 208,0412024-Q2: 209,2782024-Q3: 209,9272024-Q4: 211,0422025-Q1: 209,1912025-Q2: 210,2802025-Q3: 212,0012025-Q4: 213,9732026-Q1: 214,737NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q1214,7372022
2025-Q4213,9732022
2025-Q3212,0012022
2025-Q2210,2802022
2025-Q1209,1912022
2024-Q4211,0422022
2024-Q3209,9272022
2024-Q2209,2782022
2024-Q1208,0412022
2023-Q4209,4062022
2023-Q3207,8822022
2023-Q2206,4072022
2023-Q1205,9382022
2022-Q4205,6582022
2022-Q3203,7982022
2022-Q2201,8062022
2022-Q1200,2682022
2021-Q4199,8482017
2021-Q3197,9242017
2021-Q2195,9582017
2021-Q1194,6772017
2020-Q4195,3032017
2020-Q3193,5152017
2020-Q2192,0682017
2020-Q1191,6192017
2019-Q4192,2842017
2019-Q3191,3872017
2019-Q2190,6052017
2019-Q1190,4882017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 181,092 · 2023
2017: 186,5332018: 185,6392019: 183,9492020: 183,4202021: 182,4932022: 181,9412023: 181,092
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023181,092
2022181,941
2021182,493
2020183,420
2019183,949
2018185,639
2017186,533

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $39.9 billion · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: $26.5 billion2019-Q2: $26.2 billion2019-Q3: $26.7 billion2019-Q4: $39.5 billion2020-Q1: $27.8 billion2020-Q2: $25.5 billion2020-Q3: $26.9 billion2020-Q4: $42.7 billion2021-Q1: $27.9 billion2021-Q2: $28.9 billion2021-Q3: $29.7 billion2021-Q4: $46.4 billion2022-Q1: $30.9 billion2022-Q2: $31.3 billion2022-Q3: $32.3 billion2022-Q4: $46.8 billion2023-Q1: $32.8 billion2023-Q2: $32.9 billion2023-Q3: $33.0 billion2023-Q4: $48.6 billion2024-Q1: $35.0 billion2024-Q2: $34.5 billion2024-Q3: $35.4 billion2024-Q4: $53.5 billion2025-Q1: $37.2 billion2025-Q2: $37.2 billion2025-Q3: $37.9 billion2025-Q4: $58.0 billion2026-Q1: $39.9 billionNAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q1$39.9 billion2022
2025-Q4$58.0 billion2022
2025-Q3$37.9 billion2022
2025-Q2$37.2 billion2022
2025-Q1$37.2 billion2022
2024-Q4$53.5 billion2022
2024-Q3$35.4 billion2022
2024-Q2$34.5 billion2022
2024-Q1$35.0 billion2022
2023-Q4$48.6 billion2022
2023-Q3$33.0 billion2022
2023-Q2$32.9 billion2022
2023-Q1$32.8 billion2022
2022-Q4$46.8 billion2022
2022-Q3$32.3 billion2022
2022-Q2$31.3 billion2022
2022-Q1$30.9 billion2022
2021-Q4$46.4 billion2017
2021-Q3$29.7 billion2017
2021-Q2$28.9 billion2017
2021-Q1$27.9 billion2017
2020-Q4$42.7 billion2017
2020-Q3$26.9 billion2017
2020-Q2$25.5 billion2017
2020-Q1$27.8 billion2017
2019-Q4$39.5 billion2017
2019-Q3$26.7 billion2017
2019-Q2$26.2 billion2017
2019-Q1$26.5 billion2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $144 billion · 2023
2017: $108 billion2018: $111 billion2019: $115 billion2020: $120 billion2021: $129 billion2022: $138 billion2023: $144 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$144 billion
2022$138 billion
2021$129 billion
2020$120 billion
2019$115 billion
2018$111 billion
2017$108 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

The ledger

Every published measure

MeasureSourceLatestPeriodHistory
Value added (GDP by industry)Current dollarsGDP by Industry$422 billion20251997–2025 · 29 published
Value added, seasonally adjusted annual rateCurrent dollarsGDP by Industry$446 billion2026-Q12005-Q1–2026-Q1 · 85 published
EmploymentPrivate-sector jobs in the third month of each quarterQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages1,222,9652026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages214,7372026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$39.9 billion2026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$144 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns1,190,29720232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns181,09220232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$136 billion20222017–2022 · 2 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census1,395,94820222017–2022 · 2 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census182,08120222017–2022 · 2 published
FirmsEconomic Census168,33720222017–2022 · 2 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$375 billion20222017–2022 · 2 published
Revenue, not seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollarsQuarterly Services Survey$115 billion2026-Q22003-Q4–2026-Q2 · 91 published
Revenue, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollarsQuarterly Services Survey$118 billion2026-Q22003-Q4–2026-Q2 · 91 published

Breakdown

Industries within Legal Services

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
54111Offices of Lawyers$356 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census1,120,8032026-Q1 · QCEW
54119Other Legal Services$18.5 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census102,1622026-Q1 · QCEW

Sources

Where every number comes from

Figures are in current dollars and are the agencies’ own, revised when they revise. Each program defines its universe differently (employer firms, private ownership, all establishments), so figures from different sources are not meant to add up. This page is not endorsed by the Census Bureau, BEA or BLS. The same data is in the Palanor API (/v1/industries) and the MCP (palanor_get_industry). All industries.