Where the Work Is: Lawyers Recommend These Practice Areas in Recessionary Times

Times are tough. It’s enough to make a lawyer think about changing career directions.

Common belief has it that the legal field has so many practice areas, some practices are up even when others are down. Yeah, but other than bankruptcy, exactly which practice areas are thriving these days?

That’s where you came in. On ABAJournal.com, readers were asked to name some of the lesser-mentioned practices where an attorney might find refuge from this recessionary storm. Here are some of your suggestions.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Cash-strapped corporations of all sizes, private individuals and others are seeking to avoid litiga­tion costs and procure the services of neutral parties to resolve business-to-business, consumer and family conflicts. That’s been a boon to third-party nego­tiators in the areas of arbitration, mediation, nego­tiation, collaborative law and other practices that fall under the broad umbrella of alternative dis­pute resolution.

Continue reading the full story "Where the Work Is: Lawyers Recommend These Practice Areas in Recessionary Times" in this month's ABA Journal online.