The Legal Profession Has Entered a Recession

Once thought to be recession-proof, the legal profession is now in a recession that will include a drop in profits per partner, declining spending for legal services by corporations, attorney layoffs and a major competitive threat from law firms in London.

Here’s what a panel of experts said at the recent Marketing Partner Forum:

  • We are in a recession right now – it’s pretty obvious,” said Sara Kraeski, Esq., Director of Business Development, Davis, Graham & Stubbs in Denver.  She is a former partner in a securities and private equity law firm and a graduate of the Wharton School.
  • “We are in the middle of the perfect storm. We don’t want to be the best of the buggy makers, we want to thrive and survive, said blogger Patrick Lamb, Esq., the founder of the new Valorem Law Group, LLC, a national litigation boutique based in Chicago.
  • “There are warning signs that road ahead is riddled with landmines.  2008 looking like 2001 – when there were declining profits in the industry,” said Dan Dipietro of the Law Firm Group for Citi Private Bank in New York.
  • There’s a new challenge ahead that has the potential to cause the greatest change ever seen in the legal profession,” said Wendy L. Bernero, Chief Marketing Officer for McKee Nelson in New York, referring to UK law firms that will be able to pick off top talent from US law firms.

For the rest of the story, visit the LawMarketing Portal.

Tags:
Trackbacks (1) Links to blogs that reference this article Trackback URL
http://blog.larrybodine.com/admin/trackback/57252
Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog - February 6, 2008 6:12 AM
Patrick J. Lamb says law firms are in the "perfect storm": clients are angry at law firms and want to cut their spending for outside legal services.I call it a recession. We're in one already, but the slow-moving National Bureau...
Comments (1) Read through and enter the discussion with the form at the end
Rashmi Rai - October 28, 2008 10:18 AM

I think, the law firms can still run economically, or profitably. Only step that the firm has to do is to change the strategy and practice modes.

In fact the cost can be cut down drastically by Outsourcing the research, drafting and other legal support services to an offshore LPO.

We at Biz & Legis (www.bizandlegis.com) experiencing how the intelligent law firm managements are utilizing our cost effective Legal Support Services. Think seriously instead to pay an overpaid associate why don’t you out source your legal works to an offshore firm like http://www.bizandlegis.com/legal1.htm who can do your work chargeable at 400USD @ 20-25 USD per hour!!


Post A Comment / Question Use this form to add a comment to this entry.







Remember personal info?