Law-firm employment concentration grew enormously between 1968 and 2011

Evidence

The size of successful firms has increased dramatically in recent years, in part through the acquisition of other law firms. In 1968, there were only 20 firms that employed as many as 100 lawyers; but by 2011, the United States had four firms with more than 2,000 lawyers and 12 with more than 1,000 lawyers.*” Within these large firms, a clear hierarchy exists. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1043

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Corporate in-house and firm capture of work is shrinking solo practice — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1055; Elite law firms exploded in count and size between 1968 and 2003. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 687; US lawyers per capita stagnated for seventy years then suddenly doubled — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 476 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Big firms attract more credit and state support, reinforcing concentration. #expands (0.80) — Clara E. Mattei, Escape from Capitalism, 134
• US lawyers per capita stagnated for seventy years then suddenly doubled #complicates (0.75) — Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival…, 476