When Anthony Procaccio graduated from law school in 2013, he was one of 46,776 U.S. law students to do so (the most of any year on record, and 36% more than 2023). The economy was beginning to recover from the 2007-08 financial crisis, but job seekers were still struggling.

Procaccio, now the president of the State Bar of Wisconsin's Young Lawyers Division, was among many law school graduates who faced various economic challenges post-2008, including student loan debt. On top of that, he wasn't sure he wanted to practice law at all.

Post-law school, Procaccio took law adjacent positions that did not require a law degree. Then it hit him: he didn't want to lose the opportunity to use his law license. It was time for Procaccio to get in the game to find work as a practicing lawyer and to find his niche.

In this episode of the Bottom Up podcast, produced by the State Bar of Wisconsin, Procaccio and Communications Director Joe Forward discuss the challenges young lawyers can face in finding desired employment and navigating the early years of practice.

Procaccio shares his own winding path to his current role as an attorney in Milwaukee and offers advice for new graduates and younger lawyers. The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, the stress of the job, and the need for self-care.

He notes that the Young Lawyers Division is a resource for young attorneys to network, gain leadership experience, and find support. And Procaccio reiterates a common theme among all guests of the Bottom Up Podcast: there is no right or wrong path - there is only your path.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:46 Challenges of Finding Employment

10:36 The Importance of Mentorship

25:17 Managing Stress and Self-Care