07/16/2025

From a Courtroom to an Association Ethics Office

Here's what I wish I'd known from the beginning

After nearly a decade in the ethics and compliance field for professional associations, I'm transitioning to a new role with the D.C. city government. As I prepare to close this chapter of my career, I find myself reflecting on the unexpected journey that brought me here and the invaluable lessons I've learned along the way.

My path to ethics work was far from traditional. I began my legal career in the criminal justice system, working in a prosecutor's office, serving as a public juvenile defender and clerking for a county judge. I had every intention of pursuing that trajectory until fate intervened and landed me in the ethics and compliance office of a professional association. What I initially viewed as a temporary detour became a decade-long fascination with this specialized area of law.

Recently, I've been approached by several attorneys expressing interest in transitioning into ethics and compliance work. Their questions have prompted me to consider what I wish someone had told me before I began this journey. Here are five critical insights I would share with anyone considering this career path.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.