The sector employs about 11,000 more people compared to the same point in 2018
The legal sector in the US added 2,900 jobs in November to hit a 10-year high, according to new data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The jump in the seasonally adjusted figures for November comes after the legal industry added just 300 jobs in October and lost 900 in September. Overall, the sector employed 1,151,900 people in November, up 11,000 from the same point in 2018.
The rebound in the sector came as part of the overall rise in the US jobs market, which added 266,000 jobs in November after adding 128,000 in October and 136,000 in September.
The legal sector’s growth, however, is still lower than its 4,100 increase in August.
Nonetheless, the legal sector is performing better than the wider professional services sector, which added 38,000 jobs in November. That’s lower than the wider sector’s growth of 43,000 jobs in October.
Michelle Fivel, Major Lindsey & Africa partner, told Law 360 that the hiring growth can be partly attributed to more deals and transactions. Firms are most interested in recruiting in the areas of capital markets, finance, and M&A, she said. Fivel said that firms of all sizes, and not just the major firms, are hiring.
