Wisconsin law schools offer helping hand to unemployed graduates

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Attorney Timothy T. Kidd knows almost nothing about disability rights law.

But that did not stop the recent University of Wisconsin Law School graduate from landing a full-time job with a local advocacy group that provides legal help to poor people through 30 different programs.

Like many of the new attorneys in his graduating class, Kidd, 31, found the job market barren. So he jumped at the opportunity to attend a UW job fair which helped him connect with Community Advocates, Inc. in Milwaukee.

“I know a lot of graduates who didn’t end up where they expected, or anywhere at all yet,” said Kidd, who started his new job in mid-June.

In fact, Jane Heymann, Assistant Dean for Career Services at UW Law School, estimated that as many as half of this year’s 240 graduates could still be without jobs in the legal profession.

Most years, she said, the number of graduates with jobs are closer to “75 or 80 percent.” Marquette Law School is experiencing a similar dip in employment, according to Paul D. Katzman, Assistant Dean for Career Planning, which had 189 graduates in its May 2009 class.

“I think the lowest year in the last 30 was around 60 percent and my guess is we’ll be below that,” Katzman said.

Given the discouraging numbers, both law schools have been offering increased job resources to new graduates and alumni laid off due to the recession.

UW hosted a job fair in April that brought in 35 employers with temporary volunteer opportunities for unemployed graduates. Heymann said the school set aside $40,000 to provide small stipends for graduates who work as part-time volunteers for at least 10 weeks.

“It’s about $1,000 for graduates willing to volunteer with government agencies, district attorney’s offices or non-profit groups,” she said. “[But] it’s a way to stay connected and network until they hopefully find a full-time job.”

So far, 21 graduates have been “hired” as volunteers as a result of the job fair. Kidd originally interviewed with several agencies, including the Outagamie District Attorney’s Office, before securing a full-time paid position with Community Advocates.

Kidd, who makes $35,000/year, works with two other attorneys, primarily helping people appeal social security disability benefits denials.

None of the other volunteers has found a paid position yet, said Heymann.

Katzman said Marquette is considering a job fair, but in the meantime, career staff has focused on finding new graduates paying positions with employers.

He said he has done about “60 percent” more outreach to employers and alumni this year to gather and relay information about the job market. So far, a handful of new graduates have connected with smaller firms, either directly or indirectly through the law school’s increased outreach effort.

UW is also directing unemployed graduates to whatever job postings there are and providing tips on how to start a solo practice.

But unlike past years, Katzman said the few employers actually hiring are reluctant to advertise jobs because they do not want an avalanche of resumes, which is why he encourages graduates to be aggressive in their networking.

“Basically, it’s the 21st century version of pounding the pavement,” Katzman said. “I tell graduates they cannot sit back on the computer and wait for job postings.”

Recent alumni who have been laid off are also contacting both law schools with some regularity as well. In the last six months, Heymann said about 15 graduates who lost their jobs contacted the law school for help.

She said the school puts alums, especially those in other states, in touch with fellow attorneys and firms in the area and helps circulate resumes.

“We’re not recommending volunteer work for them, unless there is literally nothing else to do,” Heymann said. “But there just isn’t anything to apply for.”

Katzman said calls from alumni seeking career advice, including some who graduated a decade ago, have increased “300 percent” this year at Marquette.

He said in some cases, graduates are voluntarily looking for a career change, but most calls are out of necessity.

“People who have either been laid off or given notice — some haven’t done a job search in years,” Katzman said. “Common sense says we can’t create jobs, but we can try and cultivate opportunities for people.”