Florida's unemployment rate is going through the roof, but former Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne has managed to land a job just two weeks after being released from federal prison.

Jenne, who served 10 ½ months after being convicted of corruption, started work last week at the Fort Lauderdale law firm Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler.

Jenne, 61, won't work as an attorney. In June, he gave up his right to practice law for at least five years. Instead, the ex-con will join the firm's government consulting group.

His duties: Developing political strategies for businesses seeking government contracts and bringing in new clients and lobbying, said the firm's managing partner, Scott Rothstein.

''I've hired a person I consider the best political mind in the state,'' Rothstein said. ``It would take me hiring an army of people to duplicate the knowledge that belongs to him.''

Jenne, a former state senator and Broward commissioner, will work on behalf of clients at both the state and local levels, including Broward County, Rothstein said.

But Rothstein declined to say how much he's paying Jenne.

''Let's just say he's making a damn good living,'' Rothstein said. ``And he's worth every penny.''

Jenne's connections are already paying off, Rothstein said. ''Yes, Ken's brought in clients,'' said Rothstein. ''Private companies with government issues.'' He declined to identify those clients.

Jenne resigned as sheriff in September 2007 after admitting that he took tens of thousands of dollars from BSO vendors, lied on his tax returns, and abused the public's trust.

He had become a target of federal prosecutors in 2005 after newspaper accounts that disclosed his private business dealings with some of his top subordinates at BSO.

Jenne was released from prison on Sept. 29. He's currently appealing the state's decision to revoke his $125,000 pension.

''He's in great spirits and his mind is sharp,'' said Rothstein. ``Everyone around here looks at him very, very simply as a guy who did something that was very wrong and has paid his dues.''

Rothstein said the decision to hire Jenne was well-received by his firm's corporate clients, which include Citibank, Zurich Insurance, and one of Jenne's past political supporters, Windridge Yacht Charters.

''You've got to make a judgment call as to whether it will help or hurt the firm. I've been friends with Ken for 20 years, but it didn't mean I'd blow my business up to hire him,'' said Rothstein.

Jenne's immediate focus will be strategy, not lobbying.

``We have no intention to register him as a lobbyist soon. We have tons of clients, including some in gambling institutions. They're trying to navigate the local and county waters in the tri-county area. Who would be better to guide them than someone who's been in government 35 years?''

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