Demand is Rising as Firms Create More Roles
The U.S. legal job market expanded in Q1 2026, with total open roles (unfilled) up 17.4% compared to the end of Q1 2025 and 14.2% compared to the end of Q4 2025, signaling strong demand across the market.
However, demand is outpacing hiring. Job closures in Q1 increased just 1% compared to Q1 2025 and 6% compared to Q4 2025.
At the same time, new job openings rose 17.4% year over year and 32% quarter over quarter, leaving more total roles open (unfilled) than we saw last quarter and this time last year.
The Big Picture
Across U.S. Law Firms
- 3,512 new job openings
- 3,461 jobs closed
- 7,000 total jobs open (unfilled)
Across Am Law 200
- 1,984 new job openings
- +22.6% compared to Q1 2025
- +28.3% compared to Q4 2025
- 1,445 jobs closed
- +3.6% compared to Q1 2025
- -0.1% compared to Q4 2025
- 3,646 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +26.2% compared to Q1 2025
- +17.5% compared to Q4 2025
AI Demand Continues
The demand for attorneys specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to surge across the market. It is now a hiring priority.
AI specialty growth is even more pronounced across the Am Law 200. Month over month momentum is accelerating. Firms are not only hiring aggressively but also successfully filling these positions.
Across U.S. Law Firms
- +155% new job openings compared to Q1 2025
- 2x increase in new job openings from Feb 2026 to March 2026
- +153% job closures compared to Q1 2025
- +135% total open roles (unfilled) at quarter end compared to Q1 2025
Across Am Law 200
- +235.7% new job openings compared to Q1 2025
- +120% new job openings from Feb 2026 to March 2026
- +175% job closures compared to Q1 2025
- +194.4% total open roles (unfilled) at quarter end compared to Q1 2025
Litigation Demand Remains Strong
Transactional practices like Corporate, Banking, Real Estate, and IP saw strong growth in 2025. Historically, as this type of work grows, Litigation demand tends to follow.
Across U.S. Firms
- 1,440 new job openings
- +22.4% compared to Q1 2025
- +34.5% compared to Q4 2025
- 1,109 jobs closed
- +1.9% compared to Q1 2025
- +11.6% compared to Q4 2025
- 2,930 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +17.3% compared to Q1 2025
- +13.3% compared to Q4 2025
Across Am Law 200
- 636 new job openings
- +21.6% compared to Q1 2025
- +40.4% compared to Q4 2025
- 452 jobs closed
- -2.4% compared to Q1 2025
- -1.7% compared to Q4 2025
- 1,144 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +21.3% compared to Q1 2025
- +19.7% compared to Q4 2025
Counsel Hiring
Firms are prioritizing experienced attorneys who bring immediate value without requiring a partner-track trajectory, a trend we saw in 2025 and highlighted in SurePoint’s 2025 State of the Legal Industry Report.
Across U.S. Firms
- 233 new job openings
- +15.3% compared to Q1 2025
- +21.4% compared to Q4 2025
- 192 jobs closed
- +7.9% compared to Q1 2025
- +2.7% compared to Q4 2025
- 585 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +22.9% compared to Q1 2025
- +7.3% compared to Q4 2025
Across Am Law 200
- 126 new job openings
- +5% compared to Q1 2025
- +21.2% compared to Q4 2025
- 105 jobs closed
- +9.4% compared to Q1 2025
- +4% compared to Q4 2025
- 310 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +23% compared to Q1 2025
- +7% compared to Q4 2025
Associate Hiring
Across U.S. Firms
- 3,321 new job openings
- +17.3% compared to Q1 2025
- +30.9% compared to Q4 2025
- 2,532 jobs closed
- +2.1% compared to Q1 2025
- +7.7% compared to Q4 2025
- 6,557 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +17.8% compared to Q1 2025
- +14% compared to Q4 2025
Across Am Law 200
- 1,894 new job openings
- +24.5% compared to Q1 2025
- +27.2% compared to Q4 2025
- 1,379 jobs closed
- +3.9% compared to Q1 2025
- +1.9% compared to Q4 2025
- 3,456 total jobs still open at quarter end
- +28% compared to Q1 2025
- +17.7% compared to Q4 2025
Methodology Note
The analysis for U.S. firms is based on a consistent cohort of firms tracked over time in the SurePoint Legal Insights platform.
For a deeper look at legal job trends, hiring activity, or lateral hiring patterns across the market, contact us or learn more here.