WELFARE TO WORK PARTNERSHIP LAW PROJECT
(IL PROFILED – ALSO CA, FL, LA, NY)

Program Description
The Chicago Law Project is an initiative of The Welfare to Work Partnership. The Partnership is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization created by the business community to encourage and educate companies to hire and retain former welfare recipients. The Partnership was started in 1997 by five founding companies and has since grown to include more than 20,000 companies that have hired an estimated 1.1 million people from welfare to work. The Welfare to Work Partnership launched the Business Resource Group in five major cities—Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York—to help businesses hire, retain, and advance entry-level workers. The Partnership’s Business Resource Group has launched Law Projects in Chicago, Miami, and New Orleans with the goal of helping law firms meet the demands of recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining staff.

The Chicago Law Project began operation in February 2000. Although the program does not specifically target former prisoners, people with criminal records do fall into their broad target population of individuals with significant barriers to employment. The Project has graduated two classes of participants—a total of 30 people since 2000. Nearly 60 percent of the pilot class and nearly one-quarter of the subsequent class were former prisoners. Candidates receive an initial screening that involves skills assessment, drug testing, and identification of any other potential health issues. Program participants then complete a 13-week training curriculum that covers both hard skills (reading, writing, math, spelling, communication, and office skills) and soft skills (office etiquette, prioritizing skills, and giving and receiving constructive feedback) specific to working in a law firm environment. The training also incorporates certain important life skills such as money management, handling stress, and balancing work and family.

Two weeks into the training, each participant is placed in a paid internship with a law firm; they spend two days at the firm and three days in class. In addition, the individual is matched with a mentor, a volunteer from the law firm, who meets with the candidate once a week to discuss his/her progress, identify challenges, and help with problem solving. Upon completion of the training, the candidate is placed with a law firm and continues to receive support services (skill development, transportation, and childcare assistance) for one year.

Program Goals
The goal of the Chicago Law Project is to provide law firms with qualified and productive entry-level employees. The Project also seeks to provide training and stable work opportunities with the possibility of advancement for people who have experienced barriers to employment in the past.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
The Chicago Law Project has developed partnerships with other community-based organizations and local law firms. Potential candidates for the program are identified through local service providers who provide referrals. The Law Project’s community partners also include Chicago area law firms, which agree to hire at least one person who completes the training program, to provide a paid internship in a supportstaff role during the program, and to assign a mentor for new hires. The 13-week curriculum was designed in collaboration with the Partnership’s Business Resource Group and the participating law firms.

Outcomes
Since 2000, the Chicago Law Project has graduated two classes totaling 30 participants. Eight of the 12 participants from the pilot class (2001) have remained employed for 18 consecutive months. Thirteen of the 18 participants from the second class (2002) have remained employed for 90 days. Average earnings range from $10 to $16 per hour with full benefits.

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