Second gentleman expresses longing for legal career, describes transition as surreal and jarring

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is an eager supporter of his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Biden administration’s policies and agenda.

But he misses lawyering in Los Angeles. Like, really misses it.

In a new interview, Emhoff said that he missed working for his DLA Piper clients and his fast-paced legal life eight times. “Great clients need great lawyers. I just miss being in the mix,” he told Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine in a cover story interview the White House released.

“I do miss all of that. I miss the action. I really miss all of it!” he said.

“You pick up your phone and, all of a sudden, there’s a whole new set of issues awaiting you. And all throughout the day there are important clients who need you for important matters. I miss representing clients who really need a great lawyer in their time of need. I loved the hardest problems for the most important clients — the stuff that’s not easy; I loved the stuff that was hard. Also, to really put myself out there for those clients — I miss that. I miss law firm life: the highs and lows — the chase, the recruiting, the clients — all the things we love about law firm life, including the partners who need you to help them on issues and working on firm management issues,” he added.

Emhoff, who teaches in his spare time at Georgetown Law, said breaking from his law firm to join the administration and his wife in Washington was hard.

“I went from something not only that I loved so much — I loved my partners, my colleagues, the clients, the business, the town — and it was such a big part of who I was, and I was good at it. It was a big part of my identity. Then, to go from that on a dime — literally on a dime — to something completely different that has never been done before, it’s a jarring and surreal transition,” said Emhoff.

As with his lawyering, however, Emhoff has thrown himself into his new role. He has also built a substantial portfolio of issues that he has traveled the world to promote, including fighting anti-semitism, expanding opportunities for women, and encouraging legal pro bono work.

“We need more women who are equity partners, more women in law firm management. And, of course, that’s true in government, military, business, education, you name it. Why is it so unequal? There’s slightly over 50 percent women in this country; however, the higher up the professional ladder you go, the fewer women there are. Moreover, this is an issue worldwide. This is an issue that being a man who comes from the business world — the big law world — I thought I could really help move the needle on. And I’ve really been trying to do so,” he said.

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And despite his hectic life that he clearly enjoys, Emhoff said that if he were to give advice to students entering the law business, it would be to slow down.

“I would have told him to slow down a little bit. That kid wanted it all, and he wanted it now! And, in a lot of ways, he got it. But I think, looking back — and I certainly try to practice this now: Slow down a little bit, take care of yourself, work out more, focus on your health, and focus on other things instead of just work, because you can do all that stuff. That’s my advice to my younger self: Slow down! Slow down, man! You’re going to get there, don’t be in such a hurry!” he told the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s magazine.