Law Firm Benchmarking 2025
Understand the gap. Unlock the growth.
Despite mounting cost pressures, our Law Firm Benchmarking analysis reveals strong profit pool performance with city firms seeing notable growth, while regional firms face a decline.
City firms saw partner profit pools grow by 12.12%, driven by tight cost control and operational efficiency. Regional firms, however, experienced a decline of 10.82%, suggesting that fee growth alone isn’t enough to offset inflationary pressures and infrastructure investment.
Lock-up days improved overall, falling from 145 to 138, with city firms leading the way. Cyber security remains a top priority, with 22% of firms reporting incidents and 81% of firms surveyed now have dedicated cyber specialists in place. AI adoption is cautious, but interest is growing. Sustainability is gaining momentum, with over 80% of firms implementing net zero plans. Clients are placing greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and firms are increasingly expected to assess the environmental impact of their supply chains.
Explore more on the trends shaping profitability, resilience, and strategic direction in the legal sector below.
Crowe’s Law Firm Benchmarking Survey is based on information and data submitted between June 2025 and September 2025 by participating law firms with financial years ending in early 2025. The survey is completed in two parts by firms, which focuses on financial-related data and firm's performance and future plans - read more here.
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Our team advises law firms of all sizes on their growth plans, always tailoring our advice to best suit their needs.
Be part of our 2026 survey
Once we receive your form, we will be in touch in 2026 with further information on taking part in our next survey.
| Firms who participate will receive a bespoke report, which analyses their financial results against others who have participated. You will receive insight into what other firms are focusing on and we will also provide further detail and commentary on your firm's performance. Our bespoke reports feature scatterplots and can be used as a catalyst for strategic discussions. All data is anonymised. |