The Recorder surveyed seven of the largest “homegrown” (their phrase) Bay Area law firms and reported some information about where these firms stood at the end of 2008. The article can be found on the law.com website here.
Not surprisingly, at most places, the top-line number was up, but profits-per-partner dropped.
Despite the current state of the economy, the market for purchasing patents continues to increase, according to an article in the Recorder, the Bay Area’s legal newspaper. The reason for this, the article reports, has more to do with defending against lawsuits rather than innovating.
The American Lawyer’s article about the results of their annual law firm leader survey is definitely worth a read. Among the survey’s findings: nearly three-quarters of these leaders are expecting to increase their firms’ headcount in 2009. Another theme that emerges from the responses is that there is still a great deal of uncertainty about how firms are going to do next year. A significant minority believes that profits will be flat or may even decrease. There are also some interesting comments about associate attrition and business diversification.
A reporter’s view of the Bay area small firm market is that, while they are being more aggressive about trimming spending, they are busy with client work and they are, to some extent hiring.
Law.com features an article from the Legal Intelligencer reporting that firms are expecting more work as a result of an anticipated post-election push to pass new regulation in the financial sector (and, to some extent, in the area of environmental law).
A recent piece in the Wall Street Journal’s Career Journal highlights fellowships as a way of opening new doors on one’s career path. The article talks about the White House Fellowship program and quotes Boalt alum (and former White House fellow) Diane Yu who talks about her own career path.
The CDO will be hosting an informational conference call about the White House Fellows Program with Boalt alums who served as fellows
A recent article in the Marketing the Law Firm Newsletter offers some good pointers on how to connect with clients. The adivce is equally applicable to the job search context. The author was here at Berkeley Law last year presiding over our Business Etiquette Dinner and discussion.
For more on networking, see the “Career Development and Job Search Skills” section of the CDO website. We also have some good recent print resources on the Art of Networking available in the CDO Library.
In case you missed it in this past Sunday’s SF Chronicle, here is a link to an interesting article about how the economic downturn is likely to impact emerging technologies (Clean Tech, biolfules, etc), which make up a larger part of the Silicon Valley’s business sector.
Law.com links to two stories today: one is about how the Lehman bankruptcy and the sale of Merrill Lynch is likely to affect Biglaw corporate practices. A managing partner of a major NY firm is quoted as saying: “It’s a question of whether you’re fortuitous enough to be representing a financial institution that survives or whether you represent one that’s not going to be around much longer.” The article also points out that the plaintiffs’ bar will also likely be negatively affected.
The second story reports on one bright spot in the legal job market: the growth of in-house Clean Tech opportunities.
From time to time, we are asked whether pursuing a joint degree will enhance a student’s marketability. The answer, of course, depends on the particular degree and who the potential employer is.
A partner at a large NY law firm recently provided his take on this subject in a piece appearing in the Legal Times.