The Truth About Doug Emhoff's New Job
Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and the future first gentleman of the United States, announced last month that he is leaving his law firm, but it looks like he won't be focusing solely on his duties as first gentleman. The attorney has taken a teaching position at Georgetown University Law Center and will begin next term.
"I've long wanted to teach and serve the next generation of young lawyers," said Emhoff in a statement on Georgetown's website. "I couldn't be more excited to join the Georgetown community."
According to the statement, "Emhoff will serve as a Distinguished Visitor from Practice, drawing in part on his deep expertise in media and entertainment matters to teach related coursework." He will also "serve as a Distinguished Fellow of Georgetown Law's Institute for Technology Law and Policy, as part of a new entertainment and media law initiative that will include a speaker series and other projects."
Doug Emhoff won't be the first person in his position to teach
The school is thrilled to welcome Emhoff. "Doug is one of the nation's leading intellectual property and business litigators, and he has a strong commitment to social justice," said the dean of the law school, William M. Treanor. "I know our students will greatly benefit from his experience and insight, and I am eagerly looking forward to his arrival."
While it's not typical for the spouse of the vice president of the president to hold down a regular job, it's not unprecedented. President-elect Joe Biden's wife, Dr. Jill Biden, kept teaching while her husband was VP, and will continue teaching even after becoming FLOTUS.
"It's important, and I want people to value teachers and know their contributions, and lift up the profession," she told CBS. "I teach a lot of immigrants, and refugees. I love their stories, I love who they are as people, and I love the fact that I can help them on their path to success."