The legal field should see more hiring activity in the months ahead, new research indicates. Nearly one-third (31 percent) of lawyers interviewed by Robert Half Legal said their law firm or company plans to expand or add new positions in the second half (July through December) of 2013 while half (50 percent) said their organizations will be maintaining current staff levels by filling vacated posts. Thirteen percent of survey respondents said they will not be filling vacant positions or creating new ones while two percent said they will be reducing or eliminating positions.

A surge in litigation-related work is prompting the expansion of legal teams, the research suggests. More than half (55 percent) of lawyers expect litigation activity to drive hiring at their law firms and companies followed by business and commercial law matters, cited by 39 percent of those polled. Although hiring is on the horizon for many, locating candidates with the specialized skills and abilities employers require may prove difficult: 53 percent of survey respondents cited at least some challenge in finding skilled legal professionals.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a legal staffing firm specializing in placing lawyers, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 200 telephone interviews with lawyers in the United States: 100 of the respondents are employed at law firms with 20 or more employees and 100 are employed at companies with 1,000 or more employees. All of the respondents have hiring authority within their organizations.

Lawyers were asked, "Which of the following areas of law, in your opinion, will drive hiring of legal professionals at your law firm/company in the second half of 2013?" Their responses:*

Lawyers also were asked, "How challenging is it for your law firm/company to find skilled legal professionals today?" Their responses:

"To increase their bench strength and augment practice groups, law firms are seeking legal professionals who possess expertise in high-demand specialties as well as solid business development skills," said Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal. "Legal departments also are expanding their internal teams to address increased workloads."

Volkert added that companies are promoting their work environments, along with career development and work-life balance programs, in an effort to attract the best candidates.