Fit Out Cost Guide 2025 | Legal Sector

Introduction Over the past five years, the legal sector has been one of the bright spots in the office leasing landscape. Each of the past three years has been record-setting for total legal leasing activity. In 2024, law firms and the legal sector leased 18.1 million square feet (msf) of office space, a 7% increase year over-year (YOY) and 27% higher than the pre-pandemic peak in 2019 (14.2 msf). All this leasing activity requires substantial buildouts for law firms, both those moving into newly signed space or those renewing in place. Law firms have proven to be one of the most office-centric industries for expectations and requirements for in-office attendance. According to public law firm announcements tracked by Cushman & Wakefield Research, over half of all law firms (56%) require at least three days in the office. This is a higher proportion than the banking and finance sector (39%) and more than double the tech sector (26%). The Cushman & Wakefield Bright Insight survey of law firm leaders supports these statements, with nearly 60% of firms expecting attorneys to be in the office at least three days per week.

This cost guide is a supplement to Cushman&Wakefield’s recently published2025AmericasOffice FitOut Cost Guide.

U.S. Legal Sector Fit Out Cost Guide 3