The legal sector continued to grow strongly in July, defying predictions of an imminent slowdown, latest figures reveal. According to Office for National Statistics data, sector turnover for July 2022 was £3.7bn, up 8.3% from the same month in 2021 (£3.4bn). 

Legal sector turnover was also 2.2% up on the previous month. This was dramatically better than the service sector as a whole, in which July turnover of £227bn was 6% down on the June figure. 

Julie Norris, regulatory partner, legal services, at London firm Kingsley Napley LLP said the figures show that the sector 'remains robust despite the tumult of recent months. Firm leaders should as always review how various macro factors will change the landscape for their clients, their people, and their communities.'

The latest figures appear to give the lie - for now - to reports that the boom in demand for UK legal services has passed its peak. However a sharp decline in global M&A activity since 2021 and gloomy economic projections for the winter are widely expected to have knock-on effects for the sector.