I work in real estate (3d year) and we are slowing down. Some days I only have 6 hours of work. I know our litigation and labor groups are busy, but our corporate and finance groups are also slow. I am wondering which practice groups are busy right now at other firms. Any thoughts?

Tax is a good place to be. Tighter economy means everyone will fight harder to get tax money, taxpayers and states/feds.

I work in public finance in So. Cal. and am keeping busy.

Employee Benefits is always a good area of the law in terms of stability.

Litigation, Chicago, Slammed.

Litigation, Salt Lake City, Also Slammed...

OC, lit, busy.

San Diego, Corporate, up and down (typical), but more down than usual

SD, real estate, six hours is a busy day.

SF, real estate, haven't billed over 100 hours in two months, starting to look for a new job. I'll probably have to switch practice areas.

Feb 5, 12:10: how do you think SD corporate is as far as short and long term prospects? I was thinking about going that route too, but the size and volatility of the market kind of worries me.

I was not the original poster, but I also work do corporate work in SD. SD is a great market, but a bit tough to break into. Once you are established here, it is a easier to get and keep a job. Your best bet of breaking in is to show ties to the area or verifiable interest (such as taking an unpaid internship, etc.)

Good Corp. partners never have a hard time finding work. Get a job with a good group and I wouldn't worry too much about the economy. The economy is SD is holding up well despite what you hear about the downtown condo market.

I don't see the short or long term prospects as being any different than LA or OC. All So. Cal markets, including the IE and Ventura county are pretty closely tied to each other.

Best of luck to you.

OC, Real Estate, slowing down...

3:22 here, I didn't find it hard to get offers; I was just concerned that the number of biglaw firms moving into and expanding in SD over the last few years has greatly outpaced the growth of the local economy. Seems like a recipe for widespread layoffs. http://www.law.com/jsp/law/LawArticleFriendly.jsp?id=1181207139140

If you like SD, take a gamble and take a job. You can always move later, especially if it is a market slow-down layoff (no stigmitism and maybe even some sympathy). To top it off, the downtown condo market is in the crapper so you can get a sweet deal on a place.

In Las Vegas - Real Estate litigation, very busy mostly doing foreclosures and/or defending them. Public bonds - backed off a bit but came back. Intellectual Property (copyright/patent/trademark) - Busy as hell. Transactional work has slacked off and hasn't come back yet.

LA Asbestos Lit - always busy and taking over LASC

LA Asbestos litigation, slammed, mass trial and taking over LASC.