Job Opportunities - Lawyer (Portland, Belfast: apartment, house, job market)

[scarlettlily]

So as you can tell from the title, I'm a lawyer. More specifically, I work in family law. My family and I might be relocating to Maine. I guess it's more like going home for my husband. He lived there for 30 years and just isn't a fan of MA.

I'm privy to the issues surrounding the job market in Maine however I was wondering what my opportunities are like for my profession and where they are likely to be. We would like to be somewhat coastal and a little more north than Portland. I guess that would be mid-coast from what I have read. I would like a commute under an hour each way. I have my own law practice now and have no issue with starting another one if that's what it takes. My concern with that is whether there are enough clients to make a living and where to locate it. I'm not looking to be rich - just to own a modest home with a few acres of land and enough income to support that and a family of 4. In MA, we are completely saturated with lawyers and so the job market is extremely competitive and marketing your own practice is difficult. Between that and people darn near on top of eachother, we need a change. The yard for our apartment is the driveway and I can throw a rock at my neighbor's house - and I live in a "country" town. My kids need to be able to run free!

Thanks for any thoughts!

[mdand3boys]

With your being in family law, I suggest specializing in divorce and moving to any state that has allowed gay marriage. You should be able to get rich.

[scarlettlily]

I live in a state that allows gay marriage and do divorce work. It doesn't change anything and I'm not sure why it would.

[mainebrokerman]

I've always thought that a new (to the area) lawyer is a benefit, less likely, to be related to half the town, no potential historical bias towards any client, and because of the sensitive/serious client/attorney relationship, an outsider would be refreshing. (It's not your best friend's aunt/uncle)

If you are good at what you do, and you market yourself well, i believe you can pave your own road to success

[lawmom]

You would need to be north of Portland probably, since Portland is very saturated with lawyers. The only law school in the state is here. I heard somewhere once that Portland has the most lawyers per capital outside of D.C., though that is probably a bit of hyperbole.

I sent you a DM with some small insights into practicing law in Maine...

[maineguy8888]

That is not hyperbole. The last I saw the stats, Portland topped even D.C.

[island mermaid]

I'm 30 minutes north of Portland, we're saturated here too. I'd look into area's between Wiscasset and Waldoboro. More densely populated, pretty rural, great places to raise your kids and you'd probably find a nice little niche there with a little marketing stategy. Good luck!

[lawmom]

I agree -- and I'd look at Belfast, too (where my practice was). It's a nice town crying out for a female family law practice. Heck, we even have a house you can buy there! (Note to mod: this is not an advertisement as the house is not even on the market. Thank you.)

[dmyankee]

I second mbm. Come on up and hang out a shingle. There are small law offices up here who do very well for themselves. After where you live now, I think you would love it! You would also be inundated by resumes for office help and could choose top rate assistants, with the job market the way it is right now.

[Maineah]

Caddyshack had a nice thought for lawyers:

Judge Smails: The man is a menace! Cut that off! Music is a violation of our personal privacy! He's breaking the law!
Danny: I've always been fascinated with the law, sir.
Judge Smails: Really? What areas?
Danny: All areas. Personal privacy, noise statutes....I'd planned to go to law school after I graduated, but my folks won't have enough money to put me through college.
Judge Smails: The world needs ditchdiggers, too.