The amount of office space per attorney in America's biggest law firms is decreasing for both partners and associates, but whether that has produced the efficiencies expected is not clear. "Despite the dramatic shift in space planning, actual efficiencies per reported attorney have been sluggish to decline to target levels," according to Savills' new Legal Tenant 2024 Law Firm Benchmarking Report.

Among the 1,400 AmLaw 100 firm locations studied, the actual square-foot-per-attorney space allocation was on average much higher than the 500-750 SF/atty target metric most firms plan for, it noted. Of the firms analyzed, 30.4% fell within a 750-1,000 SF/atty range, while 37.3% exceeded 1,000 SF. In almost 18% of cases, the ratio was more than 1,250 SF/atty. "The average efficiency of AmLaw 100 offices is 937 SF/atty," it reported.

Savills said there could be several reasons for the discrepancies between the goal and reality. With offices not fully occupied, the SF/atty metric increases even if space is efficiently configured. Or firms could preserve the unused space to allow for future growth, house contract attorneys, or accommodate summer associates. Firms that allocate space by practice group may leave space between them. In addition, firms may find it more economical to remain in a less efficient location than to take on the cost of renovation.