1.
Only top responses are shown.
*Multiple responses were permitted.
Source: Robert Half Legal online survey of 200 lawyers with law firms and companies in the United States.
Practice areas expected to offer the greatest number
of job opportunities in the first half of 2019:
Litigation (32%)
Privacy, data security, information law (12%)
General business or commercial law (11%)
Ethics/corporate governance (11%)
STATE OF LEGAL HIRING: JANUARY – JUNE 2019
Where the Legal Jobs Are in the U.S.
© 2018 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
▪ Practice area expertise (36%)
▪ Technology skills/digital expertise (18%)
▪ Client contacts/book of business (15%)
▪ Lawyer (77%)
▪ Legal secretary (57%)
▪ Paralegal (51%)
Areas of litigation expected to offer the
greatest number of job opportunities:*
Commercial litigation (48%)
Insurance defense (41%)
Employment (36%)
47% of lawyers plan to
expand legal teams in
the next six months.
Top full-time legal
jobs being added:*
Top criteria for employers when hiring
lawyers, aside from legal knowledge:
22% of open positions will be
filled on a temporary, project or
consulting basis.

2.
STATE OF LEGAL HIRING: JANUARY – JUNE 2019
Hiring and Retention Concerns in the U.S.
© 2018 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
▪ Flexible work arrangements (38%)
▪ Professional development opportunities (26%)
▪ Company perks (12%)
91% of lawyers said it is
challenging to find skilled legal
professionals today.
▪ Shortage of qualified candidates (44%)
▪ Meeting salary expectations (23%)
▪ Offering competitive benefits (20%)
80% of lawyers are concerned with losing
top legal performers to other opportunities
in the next six months.
Only top responses are shown.
Source: Robert Half Legal online survey of 200 lawyers with law firms and companies in the United States.
Greatest challenges when hiring skilled
legal professionals:
Best retention incentives, aside from
compensation or bonus: