NAICS 922130 Quarterly Industry Report
Legal Counsel and Prosecution
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 922130Sector: Public Administration (92)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Legal Counsel and Prosecution (NAICS 922130) draws on data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics[2], U.S. Census Bureau[3], and the SBA[4]. Fair Market Value analysts examine prosecution statistics, public defender caseloads, and government legal employment specific to NAICS 922130. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[5].. Quarterly updates reflect changes in prosecution priorities, criminal justice reform, and government legal staffing trends.
Industry Definition & Overview
Legal Counsel and Prosecution (NAICS 922130) encompasses government establishments primarily engaged in providing legal counsel or prosecution services. This classification covers district attorneys' offices, state attorneys general, U.S. attorneys, public defenders' offices, and government legal departments that advise agencies on regulatory compliance and contractual matters. Military judge advocate offices also fall within this code.
District attorneys' offices are the most numerous establishments in this industry, operating in nearly every county across the United States. The Bureau of Justice Statistics[2] tracks prosecution data through surveys of prosecutors' offices, identifying over 2,300 state court prosecutors' offices nationwide. Federal prosecution is handled by 93 U.S. Attorney offices plus specialized units within the Department of Justice. Caseloads vary dramatically, from a few hundred cases per year in rural counties to hundreds of thousands in major metropolitan jurisdictions.
Public defenders represent the other side of criminal proceedings, providing constitutionally mandated legal representation to indigent defendants. State and local government legal departments handle civil matters including contract review, employment disputes, zoning appeals, and regulatory enforcement. The Census Bureau's ASPEP survey[3] captures legal services employment within its government workforce data. Funding comes primarily from general government appropriations, with some federal grant support for specialized prosecution programs targeting organized crime, cybercrime, and public corruption.
What's Included in This Industry
- District attorneys' and county prosecutors' offices
- State attorneys general offices
- U.S. attorneys' offices and DOJ litigation divisions
- Public defenders' offices at all government levels
- City and county solicitors' offices
- Government agency legal departments and general counsel offices
- Military judge advocate general (JAG) offices
- Special prosecutors and independent counsel offices
- Government appellate litigation offices
- Regulatory enforcement legal divisions
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Public Administration | 92 |
| Subsector | Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities | 922 |
| Industry Group | Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities | 9221 |
| NAICS Industry | Legal Counsel and Prosecution | 92213 |
| National Industry | Legal Counsel and Prosecution | 922130 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 922110 | Courts | Courts where prosecutors present criminal cases, public defenders represent indigent clients, and government attorneys argue civil and regulatory matters |
| 922120 | Police Protection | Police protection agencies that investigate crimes and refer cases to prosecutors for charging decisions and courtroom presentation |
| 922140 | Correctional Institutions | Correctional institutions that house offenders convicted through prosecution and process legal motions filed by government and defense attorneys |
| 922150 | Parole Offices and Probation Offices | Parole and probation offices that work with prosecutors on revocation hearings and compliance monitoring for conditional release terms |
| 921120 | Legislative Bodies | Legislative bodies that write criminal and civil statutes which prosecutors enforce and government legal counsel interpret for agency compliance |
| 922190 | Other Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities | Other justice establishments including medical examiner offices and forensic labs that provide evidence and testimony supporting prosecution cases |
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$3.5M
Total Loan Volume
$220K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.25%
Average Interest Rate
72
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[1]
Key Insight: The U.S. Small Business Administration[4] does not establish size standards for NAICS 922130 because this code covers government legal offices. Private law firms and legal service providers working as government contractors are classified under codes such as 541110 or 541199. Those firms may access SBA programs including the 7(a) loan program[6] and 504 loan program[7] under their own industry size standards.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $2.3M | $290K |
| 2 | CRF Small Business Loan Company, LLC | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of offices are classified under NAICS 922130?
NAICS 922130 covers all government legal counsel and prosecution establishments, including district attorneys, state attorneys general, U.S. attorneys, public defenders, city solicitors, and agency legal departments. The Census Bureau[8] defines this industry as establishments providing legal counsel or prosecution services for the government.
How are prosecution offices organized at different government levels?
At the federal level, 93 U.S. Attorney offices plus DOJ divisions handle prosecution. State-level prosecution is managed by attorneys general. County and city prosecutors handle the bulk of criminal cases, with over 2,300 state court prosecutors' offices identified by the Bureau of Justice Statistics[2].
Does the SBA set a size standard for NAICS 922130?
No. The SBA[9] does not assign size standards to Sector 92 codes because they represent government establishments. Private legal service providers use their own NAICS codes for SBA program eligibility.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 922130?
Key related codes include 922110 (Courts), 922120 (Police Protection), 922140 (Correctional Institutions), and 922150 (Parole and Probation). The Census Bureau[10] groups these under the justice, public order, and safety subsector.
What private-sector industries commonly serve government legal offices?
Private law firms (NAICS 541110), legal support services (NAICS 541199), IT vendors (NAICS 541512), and investigation firms (NAICS 561611) are frequent contractors. Court reporting services, expert witness consultancies, and forensic accounting firms also serve this market.
What activities are included under NAICS 922130?
Activities include criminal prosecution, legal representation of indigent defendants, government agency legal advice, contract review, regulatory enforcement litigation, appeals work, and legal counsel on employment and land use matters. Military JAG operations also fall within this classification.
Can private firms serving government legal offices qualify for SBA loans?
Where are legal counsel and prosecution offices concentrated?
Federal prosecution offices operate in every federal judicial district. Every county seat typically has a district attorney or county prosecutor office. State attorneys general offices are located in state capitals. Public defender offices mirror prosecution geography, maintaining offices wherever courts regularly hear criminal cases.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [2]Bureau of Justice Statistics bjs.ojp.gov
- [3]Census Bureau's ASPEP survey census.gov
- [4]SBA sba.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [7]504 loan program sba.gov
- [8]Census Bureau census.gov
- [9]SBA sba.gov
- [10]Census Bureau census.gov
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