Market data
Criminal defense in Florida: market data
What public records say about the market for criminal defense in Florida: how much demand the courts and agencies count, how many law offices serve it, how many people need help in Spanish, and the ad rules that apply. Every number links to the record it comes from.
Demand: what courts and agencies count
Counts of filings, crashes, complaints and enforcement in the records each agency keeps. A count shows where problems were recorded, not how many people will hire a lawyer.
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 3,672 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Florida state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 751 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Florida state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 467 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Florida state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 1,221 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Florida state | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 1,588 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Middle District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLM:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 308 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Middle District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLM:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 233 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Middle District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLM:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 538 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Middle District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLM:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 511 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 79 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 29 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 145 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Northern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLN:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal criminal defendants charged | 1,573 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal drug defendants | 364 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal fraud defendants | 205 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants | 538 defendants | 12 months ending 2026-06-30 | Southern District of Florida federal district | criminal-filings v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206 record criminal-filings:FLS:2026-06-30 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Rising or falling
The change between the last two periods each source publishes. No threshold and no smoothing.
| Measure | Before | Latest | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal criminal defendants charged Florida · record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 | 3,823 2025-12-31 | 3,672 2026-06-30 | falling (-3.9%) |
| Federal drug defendants Florida · record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 | 890 2025-12-31 | 751 2026-06-30 | falling (-15.6%) |
| Federal fraud defendants Florida · record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 | 545 2025-12-31 | 467 2026-06-30 | falling (-14.3%) |
| Federal immigration-offense defendants Florida · record criminal-filings:state-FL:2026-06-30 | 1,060 2025-12-31 | 1,221 2026-06-30 | rising (+15.2%) |
Lawyer supply
How many law offices and lawyers the federal statistics count here.
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New lawyers admitted | 2,935 lawyers a year | 2025 | Florida state | bar-pipeline v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721443 record fl-bar-pipeline · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Counties under 1 law office per 10,000 residents | 7 counties | 2026-Q1 | Florida state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Counties with no law office | 2 counties | 2026-Q1 | Florida state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Residents living in those low-office counties | 0.9 percent of residents | 2026-Q1 | Florida state | deserts v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430 record deserts-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Employer law firms | 16,554 firms | 2022 | Florida state | law-firm-economy v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997 record lfe-fl-all · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Receipts of employer law firms | 25,077,659,000 US dollars | 2022 | Florida state | law-firm-economy v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997 record lfe-fl-all · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Law offices per 10,000 residents | 8.56 per 10,000 residents | 2026-Q1 | Florida state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Self-employed lawyers (nonemployer firms) | 24,101 firms | latest Nonemployer Statistics year | Florida state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Private law offices | 20,095 establishments | 2026-Q1 | Florida state | law-offices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415 record law-offices-12 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Lawyers employed (wage-earning, BLS OEWS) | 55,210 jobs | May 2025 | Florida state | lawyer-wages v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840 record lawyer-wages:FL:231011:2025 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Median annual wage of employed lawyers | 133,180 US dollars a year | May 2025 | Florida state | lawyer-wages v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840 record lawyer-wages:FL:231011:2025 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Spanish-language demand
People who speak Spanish and speak English less than very well, and the lawyers who speak Spanish, from the Census Bureau survey (with margins of error).
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyers who speak Spanish at home (ACS) | 13,065 ±1,294 lawyers | 2020-2024 | Florida state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:FL:lawyers-spanish · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English per Spanish-speaking lawyer | 159 ±15.8 people per lawyer | 2020-2024 | Florida state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:FL:lep-per-spanish-lawyer · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English (ACS) | 2,076,728 ±17,397 people age 5+ | 2020-2024 | Florida state | language v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758 record language:state:FL:spanish-lep · status P · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Spanish speakers with limited English | 2,076,728 ±18,383 people age 5+ | 2020-2024 | Florida state | legal-need v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23741886 record legal-need-fl · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Ad rules that apply
The rules a law firm's ads in Florida have to meet, summarized from the official texts. The full rules, with quotes, are on the state page.
| Topic | Status | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Ad filing or review | P primary source | A lawyer files a copy of each ad with The Florida Bar at least 20 days before first use, with a fee (Rule 4-7.19(a), (h)). The Bar evaluates within 15 days (4-7.19(b)). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Required content | P primary source | Every ad for legal employment must include the name of at least one lawyer or the law firm responsible for its content, and the city, town or county of one or more bona fide office locations (Rule 4-7.12(a)). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Waiting periods for contact | P primary source | A written communication for the purpose of obtaining employment that concerns an action for personal injury or wrongful death, or relates to an accident or disaster involving the addressee or a relative, is barred unless the accident or disaster was more than… official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Claims and results | P primary source | References to past results must be objectively verifiable, and a prediction or guaranty of results is deceptive (Rule 4-7.13(b)(1)-(2)). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Paying for referrals | P primary source | A lawyer may not give anything of value to a person for recommending the lawyer, except the reasonable cost of permitted advertising, the usual charges of a lawyer referral service, lawyer directory, qualifying provider or other legal service organization,… official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Call recording | P primary source | Florida allows interception of a wire, oral or electronic communication when all of the parties to the communication have given prior consent. official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Texting | P primary source | The Florida Telephone Solicitation Act covers calls, texts and voicemail: written consent for automated selection and dialing, $500 per violation (tripled if willful), and a 15-day cure after a STOP reply before any text suit (§501.059). official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Drug and device injury ads (state statute) | P primary source | Fla. Stat. § 501.139, Advertisements for legal services (ch. 2023-289, CS/HB 1205) (effective 2023-07-01): Florida covers any "advertisement for legal services": a representation, in any manner through a media entity (radio, television, cable, newspapers,… official source · rules v1.4.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23750572 · checked 2026-10-28 |
| Ad filing or review | P primary source | Florida: lawyers must file their ads with a bar or court office, before the ad first runs. The standard fee is $250 per ad. official source · filing v1.2.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721409 · checked 2026-10-25 |
| Paying for referrals | P primary source | Lawyers in different firms may split a fee in proportion to the services each performs, or, under a written agreement with the client, if each assumes joint legal responsibility and stays available to the client; the total fee must be reasonable. official source · referral v1.1.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23747113 · checked 2026-10-27 |
Prices and pay (national)
| Measure | Value | Period | Place | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs in legal services (seasonally adjusted) | 1,249 thousand jobs | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:CES6054110001:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| CPI-U: legal services | 230 index | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:CUUR0000SEGC01:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| PPI: offices of lawyers | 338 index | 2026-09 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:PCU541110541110:2026-09 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
| PPI: criminal legal services | 102 index | 2023-03 | United States United States | legal-prices v1.0.0 doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854 record legal-prices:PCU541110541110B:2023-03 · status P · checked 2026-10-28 |
Download and cite
The rows behind this page, with every dataset, version, DOI, record id and check date.
Cite as: Probative Growth, The new-lawyer pipeline by jurisdiction: bar exam pass rates and new admissions, 2025 v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721443); Federal criminal cases by offense and district (U.S. Courts Tables D-1, D-2 and D-3) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23744206); Legal deserts: law offices and lawyers per resident in every U.S. county v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721430); Spanish-speaking demand vs Spanish-speaking lawyer supply, by state and metro v1.1.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23656758); Law firm size, solos and receipts, by state: Census SUSB 2022, Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and Economic Census 2022 v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23739997); Law offices, jobs and pay by county, with solo-practice counts: BLS QCEW, Census CBP and Nonemployer Statistics v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23721415); Lawyer, paralegal and legal-staff pay by state and metro (BLS OEWS) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734840); Legal need by county: who may need a lawyer, from the American Community Survey v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23741886); Legal-services prices and jobs, monthly (BLS CPI, PPI and CES) v1.0.0 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.23734854); CC BY 4.0. https://probativegrowth.com/markets/florida/criminal-defense/
Use it in your AI tool
The same answers come from our free MCP server for AI assistants (no account): https://probativegrowth.com/mcp/markets
How this page is built
Each figure is copied from one record of the dataset named with it, joined to this state and practice through the open practice and place crosswalk. Nothing is estimated. Methods, inputs and limits.