A law firm is a business entity formed mostly by a group to engage in the practice of law. The primary service provided by a law firm is to advise their clients about their legal rights, obligations and responsibilities and to represent them in business transactions and other legal cases in courts of law.
Most of us need a lawyer, at some time or the other in our life to solve problems for which there can only be legal remedy.  Most businesses also quite often rely on the knowledge, skill and expertise of law firms for running its business. Legal issues are a major part of everyday life, and the existence of law firms is an imperative need. Whether you’ve been injured because of another person’s negligence, arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or simply need help with your tax and estate planning, a law firm is typically your best source of information.
If you are considering a career in the legal industry, the time is most opportune for new entrants. The legal industry has experienced its largest expansion since 2001, according to a recent survey done by The National Law Journal. The survey, which polled the nation’s 300 largest law firms, revealed a 5.6 percent growth in 2007. Partner and associate growth surpassed last year’s numbers and the number of women working in law firms also showed a healthy increase. The National Law Journal attributes the increase to law firms’ efforts to meet the growing legal requirements of clients. 
As demand for legal services expand and become increasingly complex, the need for law firms also grows commensurately. George Washington University has now thought it fit to create a new master’s degree program in law firm management which will focus exclusively on the management and challenges unique to running a law firm. According to a recent article in the Legal Times,there is a growing acceptance among law firm partners of the important roles they can play in implementing firm strategies, expanding business, enhancing financial performance, improving professional development and staff morale and providing the high-quality infrastructure essential to the efficient delivery of legal services.
Domestic law firms are expanding beyond national borders, collaborating with foreign counsel and forming international mergers. Although globalization is not new, it is gaining momentum due to the growth of the Internet, the automation of legal processes, developments in data security and the creation of new technology tools. The convergence of a number of demographic, economic and social trends is contributing tremendously to the growth of law firms.  
Globalization of the legal industry is transforming the world into a single vast legal marketplace.  The other factors that are driving increase in law firms are – a competitive legal climate, a need to serve transnational clients, the off-shoring of legal work a larger share of the global legal market have contributed to the internationalization of law firms. Although international clients generally opt for large law firms, it is now found that even smaller firms – with fewer than 20 lawyers – had foreign clients, to lend credence that globalization has been responsible for adding to the growth of law firms.  The effect globalization will ultimately have on the management structures and practice strategies of multinational law firms remains to be seen. However, globalization will continue to create greater demand for lawyers.