Unlike many other office-reliant industries, the legal sector is doing quite well due to strong demand for services, continued revenue growth and a commitment to in-person work. As a result, 4.5 million square feet of legal space was leased in Q1 2026, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
Additionally, the company’s 2026 Bright Insight National Legal Sector Benchmark Survey Results said that more firms are expanding, tight supply is leading to higher renewal rates and that technology use (especially artificial intelligence) is expanding.
Employee Enticement
The Cushman & Wakefield analysts said that “law firms remain among the most office-centric industries,” which has made the physical space important. Nine out of 10 law firms reported that they required at least 3 in-office days per week from employees.
However, rather than providing corner offices and administrative “cubes,” law firm leaders are increasingly moving toward spaces that emphasize employee well-being, as well as areas where attorneys can do their solo work without interruption and meet with clients.
“Firms have increasingly prioritized offering premium amenities in their offices and the buildings they occupy, such as enhanced wellness and fitness facilities,” the analysts added.
AI Adoption
Respondents also said that artificial intelligence is becoming more mainstream, with 62% of those asked saying they were using the technology and another 21% planning to adopt it. The report said that AI is primarily used for document generation and analytics, with investment tied to talent strategy as well.
However, concerns exist about AI’s reliability and accuracy, particularly regarding hallucinations (confident responses that are fabricated or factually incorrect), which were 10 times higher in court documents in 2025 than in 2024.
What’s to Come
The survey reported that employment in the legal sector is increasing. “Most law firm leaders anticipate their attorney and staff headcounts to rise in 2026,” Cushman & Wakefield analysts said. Additionally, most respondents said they expect their firms to expand geographically.
Law firms are also facing business challenges, including technology, workforce and talent development. The report said that talent attraction is the top priority for law firms.
The analysts said that the firms experiencing the most success “will be those that align their real estate, workforce and technology strategies holistically.”
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