Late law school bloomer finds her calling in public service

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What kind of attorney walks away from a lucrative private practice?

One who finally feels able to pursue her passion — helping the less fortunate of the community in which she was raised.

“I had a very successful and lucrative general practice for more than 16 years,” explains Karen Dardy, supervising attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee. “It was a good means of making a living and serving my community, and it was flexible enough that as a single parent, I could raise my children. But my children are now adults, and I’m a grandmother. I don’t have to hustle as much, and coming to LAS was an opportunity — after chasing that dollar and trying to support myself — to do something for the community. That’s why I went to law school in the first place.”

LAS delivers free legal services in three major divisions: civil, guardian, and mental disability law. Dardy supervises three of LAS’s most important programs — intake, community outreach, and the volunteer lawyer project.

Dardy went to law school later than most — at 32 as the single mother of two girls, 4 and 6. Packing up and moving her children to Madison wasn’t easy, and others took notice.

“When I went back to school, I think it influenced other people,” says Dardy. “My mother went back to school and got a paralegal certificate, and a friend went to nursing school.”

In private practice, Dardy strove to have a similar effect on clients.

“I did a lot of work representing parents who had their children removed from their care,” she says. “That was some of the most rewarding work I’ve done, helping people recognize that maybe they need to take a different approach to their parenting or fit their priorities in a different manner. My advice was, ‘You’ve experienced these things in your life. I’ve experienced the same things, and they don’t have to drag you under.’”

Dardy hopes to continue delivering that message as a judge. In January, she filed an application for an appointment to an open Milwaukee County Circuit Court seat. “By going to law school, I could provide a service to people in the community who couldn’t afford what we call downtown attorneys,” she says. “I’ve moved onto another phase in providing services to people who are totally indigent. Becoming a judge is the next step in providing to my community and making certain everybody gets a fair opportunity to be heard.

“I also want to set an example for other women and minorities,” Dardy adds. “I think we need more people of color on the bench in Milwaukee. It sends a message to the community not only that we can accomplish these things, but that there’s somebody in the courthouse who looks like you and can relate to whatever issue you have.”

— G.M. Filisko