It seems that everywhere I turn these days, I run into someone who has an impressive story of struggle, despair, stress and overall disgust for the year that is (and soon to be was) 2008. Not only has the economy taken a drastic turn for the worse and caused a spike in unemployment (and fear in those still employed), but it seems as if 2008 was filled with an unusual amount of sad stories of loss and despair. Even I have to admit that 2008 was not my favorite year.
But here is the good news: 2008 is almost over! And with that comes a brand new year filled with brand new opportunities. It’s time to put the past behind us and move forward with a new sense of energy and optimism. January and February bring the busiest months for lateral hiring, so we expect to see more firms looking to bring on attorneys of all levels. Moreover, with the new Obama administration coming in late January, there should be a sharp increase in regulatory work for law firms, including financial services, anti-trust, health care, environment and energy/biofuel regulation. This will undoubtedly result in an increase demand for attorneys in these areas.
And even though the economy may not fully recover in 2009, we are already seeing a significant increase in bankruptcy filings (which is usually followed by an increase in other areas of litigation) that should continue throughout the year. Demand for bankruptcy and litigation attorneys should rise as a result.
So, for all of you who can classify 2008 as a “crappy” year, let it go. There are only a few more days before we can officially wipe our hands clean and move into what I hope will be a better year for all of us. Here’s to 2009!