Bankruptcy/foreclosure and patent prosecution attorneys are among the most in-demand workers in the legal field this year, according to the 2009 salary guide from Robert Half Legal, the legal staffing division of Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI).

For law firms, bankruptcy/foreclosure attorneys with five or more years of experience are sought, according to Robert Half Legal. Patent prosecution attorneys with three or more years of trademark or patent experience are in demand, and an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering is desirable.

Other in-demand legal personnel include litigation paralegals with three to five years of experience; in-house attorneys with at least three years of transactional law, litigation, regulatory and corporate securities experience; and legal secretaries and legal support professionals with two to five years of experience in foreclosure and litigation areas.