<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FORM 10Q
FILING AT JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0001059498
<NAME> AMERICAN LAWYER MEDIA, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998
<CASH>                                           1,879                   1,879
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   17,262                  17,262
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,488                   3,488
<INVENTORY>                                      1,510                   1,510
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                19,703                  19,703
<PP&E>                                           7,272                   7,272
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,554                   1,554
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 379,316                 379,316
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           34,138                  34,138
<BONDS>                                        175,000                 175,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                             0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                     110,013                 110,013
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   379,316                 379,316
<SALES>                                         32,291                  58,667
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                32,291                  58,667
<CGS>                                           10,617                  19,450
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   30,328                  57,568
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,629                   9,011
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (2,666)                 (7,912)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     (810)                 (1,747)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (1,856)                 (6,165)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (1,856)                 (6,165)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0
        

</TABLE>