Insights & Resources

Leopard Solutions' data reports for law firms in the greater Pittsburgh region indicate the total number of people within all practice groups increased from 2021 to 2022 and dropped back down in 2023. The biggest decreases were in corporate and labor and employment. Exceptions were litigation and real estate, which had steady growth, and health care, which fell in 2022 but increased in 2023 to surpass the 2021 fourth-quarter tally.

 

"These statistics are not surprising as the Pittsburgh legal market tends to trend about a year behind other markets," said Lori Carpenter, president at recruitment firm Carpenter Legal Search.

So far this year, Carpenter noted a strong focus on lateral partner acquisition for succession planning across various practice groups.

 

"This will continue to be relevant over the next five to 10 years as baby boomers will be seeking to retire after solidifying current client relationships with the next generation at their firms," she said.

Read more: Pittsburgh law firms see pandemic trend play out as lateral hires dropped 35% nationally - by Patty Tascarella, Pittsburgh Business Times