The legal sector sustained strong momentum in the second quarter of 2026, achieving a record 7.3 msf of leasing activity. This represented a 27% increase compared with the second quarter of last year and exceeded the previous quarterly high, recorded in Q4 2024, by 23%.
Year-to-date (YTD) legal leasing reached nearly 12.2 msf, almost two-thirds of last year’s record annual volume despite being only halfway through 2026. By comparison, 10.4 msf was leased during the first two quarters of 2025, meaning H1 legal demand increased by 17% YOY, an additional 1.8 msf of leased space.
Office leasing activity continues to recover across U.S. markets, with the legal sector serving as a key driver of demand. Across the 10 major legal markets, law firms accounted for 14% of total office leasing in Q2.
The 10 major markets were the main catalysts of Q2’s robust activity, accounting for 69% of total leasing. YTD leasing in the major markets topped 8.0 msf, equating to 71% of last year’s total activity with half the year remaining.
