How is the legal economy in Portland and Maine in general? (real estate, insurance)

[simpsonsrule]

How is the legal economy in Portland? I'm thinking of attending law school at U Maine (with a fairly large scholarship), however am concerned over what I have heard regarding a saturated economy.

I do think that Portland would have more of a community feeling than other places I am looking (Dallas, San Diego, Iowa).

[Northern Maine Land Man]

My town has been described as the kind of a place where one lawyer would starve to death and two lawyers could each make good livings. It's a good lawyer joke, but not exactly true. You see, Maine people are not sue happy as they are in New Jersey and such places. I went to a real estate closing where the buyer attended and the seller did not. The buyer did not want title insurance. The paralegal had a form for the buyer to sign stating that he had been advised to buy title insurance. He was happy to sign that. After the closing the paralegal asked why he didn't want title insurance he replied, "I know where he lives. If he cheats me I'll just drown him." The paralegal was flabbergasted and couldn't get away from that buyer fast enough. Maybe that's why we don't need to sue as much as they do in other places.

All that aside, there are good opportunities to be a country lawyer in Maine where you could do wills, probate, title work and represent the local citizens caught with too many fish or driving drunk. It can be a very good life. We have corporate law, trusts and litigation over failure to perform on contracts. You will be going to a fine school at Southern Maine. There is a lot of good solid practical case work in Maine.

[Labamba]

Not bad, but many prefer the illegal economy.