The newspaper is published Monday through Friday, and covers legal news, decisions, court calendars, and legislation, and provides analysis and insight in columns written by leading professionals.
The newspaper publishes a number of special issues, including its "PaLaw 100" rankings of Pennsylvania's 100 largest law firms.
In 1843, Philadelphia lawyer Henry E. Wallace had a goal of providing his fellow practitioners with current information on judicial and legal activities, and especially news of the auditors' meetings through which much of the routine of the law was then conducted.
"Intended as a medium for all legal notices," as the introduction for the first issue stated, the newspaper was designed "to remove an inconvenience which from the want of such a paper, has long been felt by the bar and suitors."
Henry E. Wallace, James H. Robbins, Edward P. Allinson and Walter E. Rauffenbart are just a few of the names of those who have guided The Legal from its first office at 117 Race Street to its current address at 1617 JFK Blvd., Suite 1750, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.
Henry Wallace was admitted to the bar in 1836, he had an active practice, but still found time to establish the Pennsylvania Law Journal in 1842.
In 1861, The Legal Intelligencer, as designated by William H. Seward, secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln, printed orders and resolutions enacted during the first session of the 37th Congress.
He continued to function in that capacity until 1917, when he was succeeded by Meredith Hanna, who later became deputy prothonotary of the Courts of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.
In 1933 a major change took place and The Legal Intelligencer became a daily paper, the start of the modern era of the newspaper.
The newspaper changed its address to 222 N. 15th Street where its business and editorial offices and all of its printing facilities were brought under one roof.
Under Rauffenbart's direction, the paper's business expanded into other areas of legal publishing, including court rules and a wider coverage of court opinions for publication in the statewide District and County Reports, a publication The Legal Intelligencer began producing in 1892.
Packard Press, then known as Philadelphia Printing Properties Inc. acquired The Legal Intelligencer and its affiliated publications in the early 1970s, when Phillip J. Kendall became publisher and offices were maintained at 66 N. Juniper Street until moved to a larger facility in the early 1980s to 10th and Spring Garden streets.
By hiring additional staff reporters and news services the Legal set out to be more than just a recorder of court depositions, but a full-fledged journalistic endeavor.
Reporters covered important decisions and events in the legal and judicial communities and more information was provided in a timely fashion on significant national issues as well.
Under the guidance of Richard H. Groves, president and publisher, the Legal continued to make improvements to its editorial content and service to the profession.
The paper continued to increase its coverage of the business of law during this time, while the palawnet.com website was absorbed into the national law.com network.