The 1st half of 2021 was very busy for law firms, according to a recent survey by the Legal Specialty Group at Wells Fargo. The pandemic’s onset in Q2 2020 set a lower baseline for year-over-year comparisons; yet still revenue, demand, rates, & productivity grew by impressive margins.

Florida is the latest state to consider law firm ownership by non-lawyers, as a state bar committee recently recommended that the Florida Supreme Court consider instituting a 3 year “laboratory” program, based on the “regulatory sandbox” model established in Utah.

As vaccinations rise, trials resume, and capital is deployed, demand for legal talent is back near pre-Covid levels.  There were 4,107 lateral moves in Q1 nationally, short of 2020’s highwater mark of 4,366 but north of the 5 yr avg of 3,759. Litigation (36%) and corporate (18%) led the way.  Similarly, lateral moves in North Carolina (74) eclipsed the 5 yr av. (68), but fell short of last year’s mark (83). 

As vaccinations rise, trials resume, and capital is deployed, demand for legal talent is back near pre-Covid levels.  There were 4,107 lateral moves in Q1 nationally, short of 2020’s highwater mark of 4,366 but north of the 5 yr avg of 3,759. Litigation (36%) and corporate (18%) led the way.  Similarly, lateral moves in North Carolina (74) eclipsed the 5 yr av. (68), but fell short of last year’s mark (83).