Public service is so important, especially for the youth of America, that I find myself advocating for mandatory public service after college to help our youth grow up and decide what they want to be in this complicated world. I think it would be a huge benefit to their focus and direction.

And I believe that those benefits of public service also apply to newly minted lawyers. Although I would not go so far as to make that service mandatory, I do think it might be helpful.

Public service is an important path for legal professions both as an experience and as a career. There are so many ways to practice law in the public sector, so many ways to influence public policy and the process of enacting laws and regulations that affect the people. It is a tremendous growth experience, particularly if the leadership is strong and well-intentioned.

Public service has a long run in my family, for which I am very proud. My father, my husband, and my son all join me in our experiences as public service lawyers. My husband and son chose the Department of Justice and the US Attorneys Office, respectively, and my father was a US Army lawyer and judge on the western front during WWII and later became a District Attorney. I will get to me later.

“Doing good” and ‘making a difference” are not the only reasons for public service. Since 2007, it also has become a path to student loan forgiveness for service of ten years or more. The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program was enacted by bipartisan legislation under President George W. Bush and was intended to help a variety of public service providers, from public school teachers to government employees to fire fighters and those who work at food banks. It has been a strong motivation for many young lawyers to enter public service, especially as the cost of legal educations has increased at rates that could not have been imagined and cannot be justified.

Unfortunately, however, there is talk by the current Administration of ending that important benefit, partially, I believe, to weaponize against the legal profession. I find that highly inappropriate, and I sincerely hope that it does not come to pass. However, even if it becomes the subject of an Executive Order, be of good faith. Times change and administrations come and go.

For both lawyers and non-lawyers, there are so many not-for-profit organizations to choose from. A thorough Internet search will reveal opportunities that might appeal to you. However, a recent November 10, 2025 article in the Washington Post makes it clear that, because of the large number of resignations and firings at the federal level, particularly the DOJ, there may be few opportunities available in federal government at this time.

As a result public service in state and local governments may take on greater interest. Many of the issues that affect Americans most are at the state and local levels, and the opportunities to affect public policy there is very gratifying. For those very reasons, I chose to serve in local government for eight years of my career when the requirements of billable hours in private practice did not mix well with the demands of motherhood. As the Chief of Staff for an elected lawmaker, I had an opportunity to protect my community and safeguard things I knew to be important and critical. And that experience led to many other opportunities for important work in the law.

If you are interested in becoming a public service lawyer, stay the course. The current roads may be rocky, but there is smoother sailing ahead. How’s that for a mixed metaphor to inspire you!