Legal Jobs Down; Demand for Low-Income Legal Services Up

According to the monthly jobs report out from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector saw 1,000 jobs cut in the month of December. That comes after the November monthly report showed a loss of 1,100 jobs in the legal sector. However, the most recent report has revised that number, showing that only 900 jobs were lost in legal services during November.

Another small ray of light shining on the legal sector is the year-to-year numbers for December. There were 1,200 more jobs in the legal sector during December 2010 than there were in December 2009, which may indicate a stabilizing or strengthening of the legal market, and ideally, of the U.S. economy as a whole.

Unemployment nationwide dropped from a whopping 9.8 percent in November to a slightly less painful 9.4 percent in December. The economy added 103,000 new jobs to the market during December.

The legal sector can maintain some hope for a stronger future. According to an article in the Calgary Herald, ''The legal sector is among those experiencing the highest levels of demand and the trend is expected to continue, according to government statistics and industry forecasts. From litigation lawyers to law clerks, employment in the sector should remain strong.''

However, an article out from The National Law Journal, is showing that more and more low-income citizens are seeking out free legal aid. Karen Sloan reported in the NLJ that the Legal Aid Society, the largest provider of nonprofit legal aid, noted a 40% increase in low-income persons looking for help with health care problems, a 21% increase in those looking for eviction protection, and a 6% increase in domestic violence cases, according to the attorney-in-chief, Steven Banks.
Additionally, the organization had its financial aid cut by an important $3 million during the 09-10 fiscal year and was forced to cut 30 staffers as a result.