Big law firms wooed Michael Fahy as he prepared to graduate from New York Law School with honors in 1998. His excellent grades placed him at the top of the class, and his stint as editor-in-chief of the school’s law review signaled that he was a leader who was going places.

Fahy accepted a first-year associate position at Proskauer Rose, but left after nine months to pursue his passion for public service in the New York City Fire Department.