Murshid strives for stronger unions

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The legislation that redefined labor law in Wisconsin also shaped much of Summer Murshid’s experience as a young lawyer.

“It’s been a horrible experience, as someone who really believes in unions and an organized work force,” said Murshid, an employment attorney with a focus on employment discrimination and regional class actions.

It’s been even worse for her mentors and bosses, who basically were forced to re-learn their trades after 30 years in practice.

“It was shocking for me, but it didn’t change my whole world like it did for my bosses,” Murshid said. “It goes to show, especially as a young attorney, everything can change. Nothing is constant. They don’t teach you that in law school.”

At a firm known for union representation, Murshid said it’s been a challenge to hear clients struggling and to know “there’s not a lot we can do.”

But there’s hope, she said.

“There’s still a lot of union work,” Murshid said. “It’s just a different kind of union work.”

Murshid has helped tenured employees win back their jobs after wrongful termination, and she worked on behalf of about 30 Spanish-speaking janitors, who alleged unpaid overtime and minimum wage violations.

Murshid also has written articles for her firm’s blog.

“It’s such a fantastic way to reach out to potential clients and people looking for information,” she said.