Legal services
NAICS Code: 541100
BLS projects Legal services to grow +1.2% through 2034 - 1.2 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 37% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Legal services sits among all industries
Projected 2024–2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Legal services has projected growth of 1.2%. Distribution: 21 industries at -15--10%; 23 industries at -10--5%; 41 industries at -5-0%; 128 industries at 0-5%; 51 industries at 5-10%; 14 industries at 10-15%; 4 industries at 15-20%; 3 industries at 20-25%; 6 industries at 25-30%.
Industry Insight
The Legal services industry is classified under NAICS code 541100 and employed approximately 1,192,700 workers in 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections program. By 2034, BLS projects employment will reach 1,207,100 - a net change of +14,400 jobs over the decade. That works out to a +1.2% projected growth rate, a measured but positive trajectory.
NAICS 541100 sits within a broader sector ecosystem whose health depends on demographic trends, technology adoption curves, and policy decisions on immigration, tax incentives, and labor regulation. The occupation mix inside Legal services determines how AI displacement risk filters down to individual workers, industries dominated by clerical and routine analytical roles face the steepest exposure, while those anchored in physical skill, patient care, or creative judgment retain stronger resilience.
Use this industry profile alongside our occupation rankings and employer AI risk grades to build a full picture. The BLS publishes detailed wage and employment figures for each sector in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and Employment Projections programs. The BLS Employment Projections methodology blends input-output modeling, productivity forecasts, and occupational staffing patterns, so estimates are directional rather than precise, and industry-level outcomes depend heavily on macroeconomic conditions that evolve between projection cycles.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Legal services (NAICS 541100) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Automobile dealers | 1,287,300 | +2.7% |
| Building material and supplies dealers | 1,212,100 | +2.0% |
| Elementary and secondary schools; private | 1,199,400 | -0.4% |
| Legal services | 1,192,700 | +1.2% |
| Engineering services | 1,179,600 | +4.2% |
| Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services | 1,153,500 | +2.4% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Legal services?
As of 2024, the Legal services industry employs approximately 1,192,700 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Legal services growing or declining?
The Legal services industry is projected to grow by 1.2% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +14,400 jobs over the decade.
What jobs are in the Legal services industry?
The Legal services industry (NAICS 541100) employs workers across a range of occupations. Browse the full occupations directory to see AI exposure scores, wage data, and growth projections for specific roles common in this industry.
How will AI affect the Legal services industry?
AI impact on the Legal services industry depends on the specific occupation mix. Industries with more routine data processing and clerical roles tend to have higher AI displacement risk, while those requiring physical labor, complex judgment, or creative work face lower risk. View occupation-level AI exposure scores for detailed analysis.
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Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 Employment figures in thousands. Data reflects projected changes over the 2024–2034 decade