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Research · Quarterly report

The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition

20 counts about the US legal market that most people have never seen, each computed from our open datasets: where there are no law offices, who speaks Spanish, what the ad rules demand, how long courts and agencies take, and what legal work costs. Every number comes with what it is out of, what it does not show, and the dataset, version and DOI it comes from.

Q4 2026 edition · Computed October 28, 2026 · Free under CC BY 4.0 · Not legal advice

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20 findings

  1. F01 Legal deserts

    227

    227 of the 3,144 US counties and county equivalents have no private law office and no self-employed legal business on record.

    Out of
    3,144 US counties and county equivalents
    What it does not show
    Law offices are BLS establishment counts for 2026 Q1; self-employed businesses are the Census nonemployer count (NES 2024). Lawyers in a neighboring county, government lawyers and legal aid are not counted.
    Dates
    Data period Q1 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    We use this figure in our marketing for immigration firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F01, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f01. Data: Legal deserts: law offices and lawyers per resident in every U.S. county, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23721430.

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    <p>227 of the 3,144 US counties and county equivalents have no private law office and no self-employed legal business on record. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f01">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  2. F02 Crashes where no lawyer is

    235

    235 of the 293 counties with no private law office had at least one death in a truck or bus crash from 2016 to 2025, 1,357 deaths in all.

    Out of
    293 counties with no private law office
    What it does not show
    Crashes are those reported to FMCSA (federally reportable truck and bus crashes), counted in the county where the crash happened, not where the people lived. A county with no law office can still be served from a nearby town.
    Dates
    Data period 2016 to 2025; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: what we do for personal injury firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F02, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f02. Data: Legal deserts: law offices and lawyers per resident in every U.S. county, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23721430.

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    <p>235 of the 293 counties with no private law office had at least one death in a truck or bus crash from 2016 to 2025, 1,357 deaths in all. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f02">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  3. F03 Spanish speakers and lawyers

    13.6% / 5.2%

    13.6% of US residents aged 5 and over speak Spanish at home, but only 5.2% of lawyers, judges and judicial workers do (67,037 of 1,284,045).

    Out of
    316,142,548 residents aged 5 and over
    What it does not show
    American Community Survey 2020-2024 estimates with margins of error. The census occupation group includes judges and court workers, and speaking Spanish at home does not mean practicing law in Spanish.
    Dates
    Data period 2020-2024; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    Where this figure shows up in our work: the ads we run for immigration firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F03, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f03. Data: Spanish-speaking demand vs Spanish-speaking lawyer supply, by state and metro, version 1.1.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23656758.

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    <p>13.6% of US residents aged 5 and over speak Spanish at home, but only 5.2% of lawyers, judges and judicial workers do (67,037 of 1,284,045). Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f03">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  4. F04 Waiting periods

    20

    20 of 51 jurisdictions make lawyers wait a set time before sending targeted contact to people after an accident or injury.

    Out of
    51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC)
    What it does not show
    The length and reach differ by state: some cover only written contact, some only certain accidents or disasters. Each state page quotes the rule. Not legal advice.
    Dates
    Read at the source on October 28, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    How we use it: how we market personal injury firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F04, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f04. Data: Lawyer advertising rules by state (50 states and DC), version 1.3.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23744574.

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    <p>20 of 51 jurisdictions make lawyers wait a set time before sending targeted contact to people after an accident or injury. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f04">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  5. F05 Filing ads

    7

    Only seven of 51 jurisdictions make lawyers file their ads with a bar or court office, and Florida charges the most, $250 per ad.

    Out of
    51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC)
    What it does not show
    Counts states where advertisements in general must be filed; a few more require filing only for targeted solicitations. Fees are the standard per-ad fee before late or rush fees.
    Dates
    Read at the source on October 25, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    We use this figure in marketing for injury lawyers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F05, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f05. Data: What US state bars charge, and require, to file or review lawyer advertising, version 1.2.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23721409.

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    <p>Only seven of 51 jurisdictions make lawyers file their ads with a bar or court office, and Florida charges the most, $250 per ad. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f05">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  6. F06 Truck and bus crashes

    4,579

    Truck and bus crashes reported to federal safety regulators killed 4,579 people in 2025, about 13 a day, in 4,114 fatal crashes.

    Out of
    365 days in 2025
    What it does not show
    FMCSA's crash file holds federally reportable crashes involving a truck or bus; late reports can still be added. NHTSA's FARS counts large-truck crashes a different way.
    Dates
    Data period 2025; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: what we do for personal injury firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F06, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f06. Data: Truck and bus crashes by county, state and year (FMCSA crash file), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23743677.

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    <p>Truck and bus crashes reported to federal safety regulators killed 4,579 people in 2025, about 13 a day, in 4,114 fatal crashes. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f06">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  7. F07 Workplace charges

    61.6%

    Retaliation was named in 54,350 of the 88,201 charges filed with the EEOC in fiscal year 2025 (61.6%), more than any other basis.

    Out of
    88,201 EEOC charges, fiscal year 2025
    What it does not show
    A charge can name more than one basis, so the bases add up to more than the total. Charges are allegations, not findings, and state and local agencies take more.
    Dates
    Data period fiscal year 2025; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    Where this figure shows up in our work: how employment law firms get found in search and AI answers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F07, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f07. Data: Employment discrimination charges to the EEOC, by state and basis, FY 2009 to FY 2025, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23733005.

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    <p>Retaliation was named in 54,350 of the 88,201 charges filed with the EEOC in fiscal year 2025 (61.6%), more than any other basis. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f07">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  8. F08 Immigration court backlog

    3,469,569

    Immigration courts had 3,469,569 cases pending on June 30, 2026, about 47 months of work at this fiscal year’s pace of 73,371 completed cases a month.

    Out of
    73,371 completions a month this fiscal year
    What it does not show
    EOIR counts are preliminary and subject to change. The months figure divides the backlog by the current pace; it is not a forecast, since new cases keep arriving and the pace changes.
    Dates
    Read at the source on June 30, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    How we use it: how we run Google Ads for immigration firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F08, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f08. Data: Immigration court backlog, representation and asylum outcomes (EOIR workload statistics and case data), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23739986.

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    <p>Immigration courts had 3,469,569 cases pending on June 30, 2026, about 47 months of work at this fiscal year’s pace of 73,371 completed cases a month. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f08">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  9. F09 Immigration representation

    45.4%

    In fiscal year 2025, 119,519 of 263,133 completed immigration court cases had no representative on record (45.4%).

    Out of
    263,133 completed cases, fiscal year 2025
    What it does not show
    EOIR leaves out in absentia orders, terminations and dismissals from this count. A representative can be a lawyer or an accredited representative.
    Dates
    Data period fiscal year 2025; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    We use this figure in our marketing for immigration firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F09, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f09. Data: Immigration court backlog, representation and asylum outcomes (EOIR workload statistics and case data), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23739986.

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    <p>In fiscal year 2025, 119,519 of 263,133 completed immigration court cases had no representative on record (45.4%). Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f09">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  10. F10 Veterans’ claims help

    2,333

    2,333 of 3,135 counties have no VA-accredited attorney or claims agent with a business address there, and about 4,066,000 veterans live in them.

    Out of
    3,135 counties
    What it does not show
    Counted by business address on the VA lists; an accredited attorney or agent can help a veteran anywhere. Veterans service organizations’ representatives are not counted, and veteran counts are VA projections.
    Dates
    Read at the source on October 28, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    Where this figure shows up in our work: paid search and ads for veterans disability lawyers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F10, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f10. Data: VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents per veteran, by state, with county counts and Board of Veterans' Appeals outcomes by type of representation, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23740008.

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    <p>2,333 of 3,135 counties have no VA-accredited attorney or claims agent with a business address there, and about 4,066,000 veterans live in them. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f10">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  11. F11 Veterans’ appeals

    42.7% / 29.7%

    In fiscal year 2024, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals allowed 42.7% of 14,500 Legacy appeals with an attorney and 29.7% of 4,544 with no representative.

    Out of
    14,500 attorney-represented Legacy appeals decided
    What it does not show
    Board-wide counts of decided Legacy-system appeals. They do not show that representation changed the outcome: the cases each group brings can differ in many ways.
    Dates
    Data period fiscal year 2024; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: how VA disability firms get found in search and AI answers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F11, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f11. Data: VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents per veteran, by state, with county counts and Board of Veterans' Appeals outcomes by type of representation, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23740008.

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    <p>In fiscal year 2024, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals allowed 42.7% of 14,500 Legacy appeals with an attorney and 29.7% of 4,544 with no representative. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f11">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  12. F12 Deadlines to sue

    1–6 years

    The general deadline to sue for a personal injury runs from 1 year in Kentucky and Tennessee to 6 years in Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota, across 51 jurisdictions.

    Out of
    51 jurisdictions read
    What it does not show
    The general rule only: car-crash, discovery, minor, government-claim and other exceptions can change a deadline. Not legal advice; a lawyer in the state decides a real deadline.
    Dates
    Read at the source on October 28, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; includes a secondary source.

    We use this figure in marketing for truck accident cases.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F12, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f12. Data: Statutes of limitations by state: personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability and property damage, version 1.1.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23743673.

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    <p>The general deadline to sue for a personal injury runs from 1 year in Kentucky and Tennessee to 6 years in Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota, across 51 jurisdictions. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f12">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  13. F13 Legal prices

    +47.3%

    Consumer prices for legal services rose 47.3% from January 2017 to September 2026, against 38.8% for all items.

    Out of
    155.978 index value in January 2017
    What it does not show
    The consumer index follows a basket of household legal services such as wills, divorces and closings. It is not a law firm’s billing rate, and BLS does not seasonally adjust it.
    Dates
    Data period January 2017 to September 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    How we use it: what we do for estate planning firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F13, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f13. Data: Legal-services prices and jobs, monthly (BLS CPI, PPI and CES), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23734854.

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    <p>Consumer prices for legal services rose 47.3% from January 2017 to September 2026, against 38.8% for all items. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f13">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  14. F14 What law offices receive

    +62.9%

    The prices law offices receive for their work rose 62.9% from January 2017 to September 2026, faster than the 47.3% rise in what households pay for legal services.

    Out of
    207.7 index value in January 2017
    What it does not show
    The producer price index covers all of law offices’ work, mostly for businesses. The latest month is preliminary and BLS revises it for four months.
    Dates
    Data period January 2017 to September 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    Where this figure shows up in our work: marketing for estate planning attorneys.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F14, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f14. Data: Legal-services prices and jobs, monthly (BLS CPI, PPI and CES), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23734854.

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    <p>The prices law offices receive for their work rose 62.9% from January 2017 to September 2026, faster than the 47.3% rise in what households pay for legal services. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f14">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  15. F15 Who earns the fees

    34.9%

    The 203 law firms with 500 or more employees were 0.13% of the 156,583 employer law firms in 2022 but took in 34.9% of their receipts.

    Out of
    156,583 employer law firms, 2022
    What it does not show
    Census Statistics of US Businesses: employer firms only, sized by their employees nationwide. Self-employed lawyers with no staff are counted separately and are not in either figure.
    Dates
    Data period 2022; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: our marketing for family law firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F15, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f15. Data: Law firm size, solos and receipts, by state: Census SUSB 2022, Nonemployer Statistics 2024 and Economic Census 2022, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23739997.

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    <p>The 203 law firms with 500 or more employees were 0.13% of the 156,583 employer law firms in 2022 but took in 34.9% of their receipts. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f15">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  16. F16 Mass torts

    33.8%

    On October 1, 2026, one docket, MDL-2738 (Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder), held 33.8% of the 204,977 actions pending in 162 open multidistrict litigation dockets.

    Out of
    204,977 actions pending in 162 open MDL dockets
    What it does not show
    From the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation’s pending-dockets report. An action is a case, and one case can hold more than one plaintiff.
    Dates
    Read at the source on October 1, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    We use this figure in marketing for mass tort lawyers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F16, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f16. Data: Mass-tort docket tracker, federal MDL pending actions by month since 2019, version 1.1.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23720737.

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    <p>On October 1, 2026, one docket, MDL-2738 (Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder), held 33.8% of the 204,977 actions pending in 162 open multidistrict litigation dockets. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f16">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  17. F17 Disability hearing waits

    7.0–12.0 months

    For Social Security disability cases closed in August 2026, the average wait from hearing request to hearing ran from 7.0 months in 14 offices to 12.0 months in Phoenix North, AZ, across 158 hearing offices.

    Out of
    158 Social Security hearing offices
    What it does not show
    SSA’s monthly averages for cases closed that month, by hearing office; one month can move with a few cases. The national review unit is left out.
    Dates
    Data period August 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    How we use it: search and AI visibility for Social Security disability firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F17, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f17. Data: Social Security disability hearing waits and workloads by hearing office, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23741884.

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    <p>For Social Security disability cases closed in August 2026, the average wait from hearing request to hearing ran from 7.0 months in 14 offices to 12.0 months in Phoenix North, AZ, across 158 hearing offices. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f17">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  18. F18 Bankruptcy

    +11.4%

    621,111 bankruptcy cases were filed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, up 11.4% from 557,376 a year earlier.

    Out of
    557,376 cases filed in the 12 months before
    What it does not show
    US Courts table F-2: cases commenced, business and nonbusiness, all chapters. A filing by a married couple counts once.
    Dates
    Data period October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    Where this figure shows up in our work: search and AI visibility for bankruptcy firms.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F18, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f18. Data: Bankruptcy filings by chapter, court district, state and county, quarterly (U.S. Courts), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23739952.

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    <p>621,111 bankruptcy cases were filed in the 12 months ending September 30, 2026, up 11.4% from 557,376 a year earlier. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f18">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  19. F19 Nursing homes

    44.0%

    Federal regulators fined 6,468 of the 14,686 certified nursing homes (44.0%) from October 2023 to September 2026, $445.7 million in all.

    Out of
    14,686 Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing homes
    What it does not show
    CMS penalty records as published on Care Compare, which keeps about three years. A fine is a federal enforcement action, not a court finding of abuse or neglect.
    Dates
    Data period October 17, 2023 to September 23, 2026; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: marketing for malpractice lawyers.

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    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F19, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f19. Data: Nursing home fines and harm citations by county: CMS penalties, actual-harm, immediate-jeopardy and abuse citations, version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23741901.

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    <p>Federal regulators fined 6,468 of the 14,686 certified nursing homes (44.0%) from October 2023 to September 2026, $445.7 million in all. Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f19">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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  20. F20 Unpaid wages

    61.8%

    From fiscal year 2016 to 2025, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found $2.09 billion in back wages owed to 1,732,370 employees, and unpaid overtime was 61.8% of it ($1.29 billion).

    Out of
    2,094,507,449.77 dollars of back wages found owed, fiscal years 2016 to 2025
    What it does not show
    Cases the Division concluded with findings, from the Labor Department’s public enforcement file; recent years still fill in as cases close. Private lawsuits and state agencies’ recoveries are not counted, and back wages found owed are not always paid.
    Dates
    Data period fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2025; computed October 28, 2026; from primary sources.

    For our clients: the ads we run for employment law firms.

    Cite or share this figure

    Citation

    Probative Growth, “The US legal market in numbers, Q4 2026 edition,” finding F20, October 28, 2026, https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f20. Data: Wage-and-hour and OSHA enforcement by county, state, act and industry (U.S. Department of Labor), version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23744226.

    Paste on your page (a plain citation line with the credit link)

    <p>From fiscal year 2016 to 2025, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division found $2.09 billion in back wages owed to 1,732,370 employees, and unpaid overtime was 61.8% of it ($1.29 billion). Source: <a href="https://probativegrowth.com/research/us-legal-market-in-numbers/#f20">Probative Growth, The US legal market in numbers</a> (CC BY 4.0).</p>

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How we made this report

A script computes every finding from the current release of our open datasets and writes it to the findings dataset with the version, DOI and record it came from. Nobody types a number. We chose counts that surprise people who work in the legal market, and we print each one next to what it is out of and what it does not show. The report uses 17 datasets.

This is the Q4 2026 edition. A new edition comes out each quarter, with its own version and DOI, after the datasets refresh. A figure that moves between editions is listed in the dataset's change log, and the earlier edition stays citable.

None of these figures is a Probative client result or a benchmark from our own accounts. They describe the market, not any one firm, case or person. Not legal advice.

Cite and download the report

Cite the report as: Probative. (2026). The US legal market in numbers: headline findings from Probative's open datasets (Version 1.1.0) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23748830

Credit line: Source: Probative, The US legal market in numbers: headline findings from Probative's open datasets, version 1.1.0, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23748830, licensed CC BY 4.0.

Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, including commercially, with credit and a link. Each finding can also be asked for by number through our MCP server at /mcp/findings.

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