A little over two years ago, after serving for almost 17 years in the government—as a Marine officer after college, and as an assistant U.S. Attorney and assistant District Attorney after graduating from law school—I eventually made the difficult decision to leave the public sector for a position at a law firm. I hope my experience and reflections may be helpful to others who are considering their options for a successful transition from government to private practice.

Overview

At first, it was daunting to even consider diving into the world of private practice, as I had spent my entire professional life in government service. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the government, and continue to appreciate the experiences that I had and relationships I developed during those years. While I recognized that the time was right for me to explore other opportunities outside of the public sector, I struggled with how I would adjust to the concept of service in this new capacity—no longer serving the government and communities at the local and federal level, but rather representing organizations and individuals.