Discussion of Public Sector and Public Policy Careers

Please join the D.C. alumni chapters of Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Law School for an informative in-person program from four experts about career options for working in the public sector, or in the public policy area. This is a great program for those already in those fields as well as for those who might be in the private sector and considering a move to the government sector or for those who might wish to pivot from law firm or consulting practices to public policy lobbying/advocacy.  The event will feature four thoughtful speakers who will provide an overview of the topics, followed by breakout sessions into public sector and public policy presentations. Midway through the evening, we will allow participants to rotate to the other break out session if they wish. There will be concluding remarks and then an opportunity to socialize with light refreshments with the speakers and others in attendance.

Event is FREE. Alumni and Guests permitted and welcome.

Location: Dentons Law Firm

1900 K Street NW

Washington, DC 20006 USA

 Panelists 

• Leslie Callahan (HLS J.D. '86), Moderator, is an Associate Professor in the Fundamentals of Lawyering Program at George Washington University Law School. Prior to joining GW’s program in 2022, she taught legal writing at Notre Dame Law School in South Bend, Indiana, where her family had relocated in connection with her spouse’s academic career. Before moving to the midwest, she was a commercial litigator with Morrison & Foerster in New York and had clerked for the U.S. district court in Atlanta. While in law school, she was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. Leslie is originally from Philadelphia, is a Bryn Mawr College alum, and has enjoyed reconnecting with HLS through her son’s experience as a ‘23 grad. Leslie is an HLSA-DC board member with a personal focus on professional mentoring for students and career professionals.

• Joshua Lee (HLS J.D. '18), Moderator, is an associate in the D.C. Office of Baker Botts L.L.P., representing clients in all aspects of environmental law, including litigation, regulatory counseling and advocacy, and corporate transactions. Joshua also maintains an active pro bono practice, matters ranging anywhere from appellate advocacy in civil rights issues to corporate counseling for non-profit organizations. He returns to the Washington, D.C. community after clerking for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. While in law school, Joshua served as the Managing Editor for the Harvard Environmental Law Review and was a Chayes International Public Service Fellow. Prior to law school, Joshua served in the South Korean Army. He received his undergraduate degree in environmental studies and Spanish literature from Dartmouth College.

• Hon. Patrick A. Mulloy (HLS LL.M. '78), Public Sector Speaker, began his government career as a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, followed by a decades long government lawyer career as a trial lawyer at the Justice Department and as General Counsel/Chief International Counsel for the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. Mr. Mulloy was nominated and confirmed to serve as the Assistant Secretary in the International Trade Administration in the Dept. of Commerce during the Clinton Administration. Additionally, Mr. Mulloy taught international law courses for several years at the law schools at Catholic University and George Mason. Mr. Mulloy also served five terms on the bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. In addition, Mr. Mulloy remains active as a consultant on trade reform matters.

• Matthew Kelly (HLS J.D. '97), Public Sector Speaker, is a summa cum laude graduate of Columbia University in anthropology and pursued graduate school at the University of Chicago in that field. As a lawyer, Mr. Kelly practiced in the private law sector before moving to the government sector at the Department of Interior in the Division of Indian Affairs in the Office of the Solicitor. He has held a series of progressively more complicated and important public sector roles during his time at Interior.  He is the Secretary of the HLSA-DC board.

• Charles Carithers (HKS '07), Public Policy Speaker, is a principal at Cornerstone, a D.C. public policy/public affairs firm. He joined Cornerstone in January 2020 from the House Committee on Homeland Security; he served as professional staff advising Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) on various intelligence/national security matters. Before joining the Hill Committee, Mr. Carithers spent 11 years in the U.S. intelligence community including serving as a Brookings Institution Legislative fellow at the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Mr. Carithers has been honored as the recipient of the Secretary of Defense’s Global War on Terrorism Award and Medal. In addition, Mr. Carithers is the recipient of the Joint Civilian Service Commendation Award and Medal.

• Stephanie Sanok Kostro (HKS), Public Policy Speaker, is the Executive Vice President for Policy at the Professional Services Council. Ms. Kostro is an executive, on-air commentator, and policy expert with more than 20 years of experience in the U.S. Government and industry. She brings a wealth of knowledge in federal procurement policy and acquisition regulations, government processes and programs, and public-private partnerships. From 2010-2015, she was a senior fellow and director of the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a national security think tank. Kostro served as a State Department contractor in the U.S. Embassy Baghdad for one year, and from 2005-2008, she was a senior professional staff member and policy director on the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee.