Odds of Hanging On
The better a case you make for yourself (so to speak), the likelier it is that you'll not only keep your job, but that you'll also go on to amass many more clients. It's pretty much a fancy way of saying that the more cases you win (or favorably settle), and the more property you keep in the hands (or minds) of its rightful owners, the longer you'll be in business.
It won't exactly be easy, though. In fact, while you do get paid a pretty comfortable amount of money, you'll definitely earn every penny. Remember that no matter what branch of IP law you're practicing, you really have to stay up-to-date on the latest entertainment, technological, or scientific trends and developments.
You need to be able to prove, beyond a doubt, who the rightful owner of said property is before anyone else can lay claim to it. It's a dog-copy-dog world out there, but it's your job to make it more of a dog-copyright-dog world.
Also keep in mind that the IP law world is fast-paced, cutthroat, and intense. If you can't keep up the pace, you might last as long as a knockoff handbag at a fashion show.