ALBANY - Local lawyers say the downturn in the economy is creating an uptick in their work load.

Typically, much of attorney Dave Ehrlich's work at the courthouse has been to ensure that career criminals got a fair case. But recently more and more of his clients are first time offenders -- regular people who have fallen on hard times.

"People coming to me and saying they sold drugs or stole because they didn't have enough to go around. It's not an excuse, but you have to consider that as a factor. People are being pushed to the extreme," Ehrlich said.

Ehrlich's petit larceny caseload has increased significantly. But the cases are not all the usual electronics or pricey clothes and accessories.

"I've also had people charged with stealing food. When you see people stealing food that gives you an indication of how desperate people have become," he said.

Cases are piling up on Warren Redlich's desk too. The defense lawyer's caseload has increased 20 percent compared to this time last year.

"People are very frustrated, very angry. People are depressed and they make poor judgments," Redlich said.

Redlich isn't excusing those clients' behavior, but he is sympathetic. He just hopes the court and the prosecutors will be too.

"People have this image about criminal law being about the super criminal. It's regular people who have bad days," he said.

Lost jobs also means lost health insurance. So many aren't getting the substance abuse or mental health care they once were. Plus agencies that provide indigent services are having their funding cut.

The lawyers say they are doing a lot more traffic and divorce work. Traffic because municipalities are trying to cover costs with speeding and parking tickets and divorce because money or a lack of it is stressful and that affects relationships.