Nine Biglaw firms showed their belly to Trump and signed deals with the administration promising a combined $940 million in pro bono payola for whichever conservative causes and clients strike Donald Trump’s fancy. The result of forsaking the rule of law hasn’t been pretty — there have been congressional investigations and client concerns and the deal with Trump generally keeps getting worse. And, of course, there’ve been bunches of associates bailing on the firms to distance themselves (partners are jetting from the yellow-bellied nine too, though they’re often more circumspect about the reason for their departure).
But what’s next on the career path for associates that made a principled stand? It’s a tightening lateral market and they have no book of business to port to another firm. Plus there’s always a risk the firm they jump to decides to cave next under pressure from Trump, though some have found a home a firms that have already taken a stand against Trump.
Former Simpson Thacher associate Taylor Wettach is taking a different path. Though Simpson’s cowardice radically changed his career path, he’s out there making lemonade out of those lemons.
Today the seventh generation Iowan announced he’s running for Congress “to take back Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.” In his opening “elevator pitch” campaign video, Wettach explains how Simspon’s capitulation to Trump derailed his legal career (and slyly refers to his T14 legal education) and now he’s focused on the political sphere and trying to enact real change for Iowans. It’s an enticing pitch for those feeling lost and helpless by the country’s recent swing towards authoritarianism.
Let’s see if it plays well in Iowa.
Watch the campaign video below.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].