Lawyers cite bankruptcy, litigation as key areas for growth

In recent times bankruptcy and litigation have been growth areas within many firms, and a new survey shows this trend is apt to continue. In the Robert Half Legal poll, nearly one in three (32 percent) lawyers cited bankruptcy/foreclosure as the area that will experience the most growth in the next three months. Another 22 percent believed litigation would exhibit the strongest growth within this time frame. The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a leading staffing service specializing in attorneys, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and includes responses from 300 attorneys from among the largest law firms and corporations in the United States and Canada. All respondents have at least three years of experience in the legal field. Lawyers were asked, "In your opinion, which one of the following areas of law will experience the most growth in the next three months?" Their responses: Bankruptcy/foreclosure 32 % Litigation 22% Labor and employment 10% Intellectual property 6% Ethics and corporate governance 5% Environmental law 3% General business/commercial law 2% Healthcare 1% Other 6% Don't know/no answer 13% "Economic conditions continue to fuel demand for specialists in bankruptcy and litigation," said Charles Volkert, executive director of Robert Half Legal. "These specialties are broad in scope, since they are not restricted to specific industries or client types. Their wide reach, combined with the complex financial issues that individuals and businesses face, may result in ongoing demand in this area." Volkert added that the need for legal professionals is especially strong within small-to-midsize firms. "The uptick in litigation for insurance defense, personal injury, labor and employment, medical malpractice, and foreclosure is driving the need for experienced professionals in these areas," he said. More information on hiring trends in the legal field, including an interactive Salary Calculator, can be found at www.roberthalflegal.com/SalaryCenter. Published: Fri, Feb 19, 2010

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