Legal industry woes

What’s a laid-off lawyer to do?

We typically don’t think of professionals as being threatened by economic ups and downs; jobless stories tend to focus on hourly workers or salaried folks in troubled industries.  But if you’re looking for a new way to tackle the ever-present unemployment beat, keep your eyes open for signs of legal-industry woes.

I was surprised recently to see a recurring television ad by the most prominent attorney in my region.  Every market has at least one – the man or woman who defends the celebrity clients, champions the underdog in controversial lawsuits and knows how to play the attention for all its worth.

So it was interesting to see this big ego doing a relatively humble TV spot to remind us that he and his partners take on all sorts of cases; that the high-profile ones were just a fraction of their practice and that they were ready, willing and able to serve average folks like us.

Clearly, the legal profession hasn’t been immune to the effects of the recession – here’s an essay from a hiring and recruiting expert discussing the challenges facing new law school grads.  Check for the ripple effect on any law, paralegal and related schools and programs in your area.

Veterans are finding themselves downsized or working as contractors for lower pay. Those who still are employed by traditional firms are battling internally for assignments and hours, according to this recent piece in Texas Lawyer.  How have the economics of running a law firm changed?  Are partnerships cutting prices or otherwise adopting competitive strategies we don’t generally see among the professions?

The online portal Legal Blog Watch aggregates news and commentary from a number of other sites; it’s a great idea springboard.

The latest occupational outlook report on lawyers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a rather tepid forecast for attorneys, noting that private practitioners in particular will face tough competition and difficulty establishing themselves.

Related story ideas could include the impact on court reporters, jury consultants, forensic consultants and paralegals.  Check with temporary staffing agencies for more about hiring and wage trends in these fields.

Support services like Evidence Express, which produces graphics and other materials for courtroom use, may have tales to tell.  Video conferencing and video depositions are reportedly up, which may be good news for niche industry suppliers.

Companies that conduct Continuing Legal Education (CLE) likely have insight to offer; the national trade group can direct you to local resources.

Don’t forget to check with weekly legal journals, developers that market office space to law firms and your state’s bar association for other points of view.