Boom time?

That is what the LA Times says it is for lawyers. And it is for some - mortgage fraud, bankruptcy and all that. And perhaps the bailout will create opportunities that lawyers will have to helo their clients wade through.

Of course, this is being written as two major California law firms (Thelen and Heller) have dissolved in the last few weeks. Don't tell all the laid off lawyers we're in a boom time. They and support staff are in many cases having a tough go of it.

Larry Bodine, citing a Hildebrand International report, agrees. The word is that 2009 will be a tough year for lawyers, not a boom time. More layoffs are expected, profits will be flat or down. And I'll bet a nickel you will see several more major firms dissolve.

There''s always opportnuity out there for a good lawyer. And sometimes a downturn in one sector of the business means an uptick in others. But I just don't see this as a boom time.