When JD Vance stepped onto the stage at the Republican National Convention, a lot of people were asking the same thing. Who is the woman next to him? More specifically, what does JD Vance’s wife do for a living?
Usha Vance isn't just a political spouse. Honestly, her resume is probably one of the most intimidating things you’ll ever read. For years, she was a high-flying litigator at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country. But things changed fast when the 2024 campaign kicked into high gear.
The Career of a Heavy Hitter
Usha Chilukuri Vance spent the bulk of her professional life as a corporate litigator. She worked for Munger, Tolles & Olson, a law firm known for its "radically progressive" internal culture—which is a bit of a plot twist considering her husband’s conservative politics.
She wasn't just doing paperwork. She was handling complex civil litigation and appeals. We’re talking about massive sectors like higher education, local government, entertainment, and even semiconductors. Her client list sounded like a Fortune 500 roll call. She represented a division of The Walt Disney Company, the Regents of the University of California, and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Basically, if a giant corporation had a massive legal headache, Usha was the one they called to fix it.
The Supreme Court Connection
Before she entered private practice, Usha was on the ultimate "fast track" in the legal world. She held some of the most sought-after clerkships in Washington.
- She clerked for Chief Justice John Roberts at the U.S. Supreme Court (2017–2018).
- She worked for Brett Kavanaugh when he was still a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
- She also clerked for Judge Amul Thapar.
In the legal world, getting one of these spots is like winning an Olympic gold medal. Getting two? That's almost unheard of. It basically guaranteed her a massive signing bonus and her pick of any law firm in the country once she was done.
What is Usha Vance doing now?
Everything shifted in July 2024. Within minutes of Donald Trump announcing JD Vance as his running mate, Usha’s bio vanished from her law firm’s website.
She resigned immediately.
In her official statement, she said she was stepping down to "focus on caring for our family." Since then, her "job" has looke a lot different. She transitioned from the courtroom to the campaign trail, acting as a key advisor and "spirit guide" for JD. He’s famously said she’s "way more accomplished" than he is, and she reportedly helped him prep for the high-stakes vice presidential debates.
Life as Second Lady
As of 2026, Usha Vance is the Second Lady of the United States.
She’s the first Indian-American and the first Hindu to hold the title. While she’s kept a relatively low profile compared to some of her predecessors, she hasn't been idle. In early 2025, she was appointed to the board of trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. She also launched the "Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge" to encourage kids to put down their phones and pick up books—something she’s personally obsessed with. You'd often see her on the campaign trail with a translation of the Iliad tucked under her arm.
She’s also been a regular fixture on the international stage. She led the U.S. delegation to the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Italy and accompanied the Vice President on several state visits across Europe.
The "Ivy League" Background
If you want to understand what she does, you have to look at how she got there. It’s a classic high-achiever story.
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- Yale University: Summa cum laude in History.
- University of Cambridge: Master of Philosophy as a Gates Cambridge Scholar.
- Yale Law School: Where she met JD and served as the executive development editor of the Yale Law Journal.
She even spent a year teaching English and American history in Guangzhou, China, through a Yale fellowship. She’s essentially a career academic who turned into a legal shark, and then into a political powerhouse.
A Balance of Power
People often wonder how she balances her past life with her current one. She was a registered Democrat until about 2014. Her old law firm was known for its progressive stances. Yet, she’s now a central figure in a deeply conservative administration.
Friends from her law school days have described her as "the boss" and incredibly diligent. Even though she’s no longer arguing cases in front of federal judges, most insiders agree she’s still doing plenty of "work" behind the scenes, helping JD navigate the complexities of D.C.
Actionable Insights: What to Watch Next
- Policy Focus: Watch for her to expand her "Reading Challenge" into a broader education and literacy initiative through 2026.
- Arts Leadership: As a trustee of the Kennedy Center and the Washington National Opera, expect her to be a major face for the American arts scene.
- Diplomatic Role: She is increasingly being used as a solo representative for the administration at international cultural and sporting events.
Usha Vance might have left the courtroom, but she hasn't stopped working. She just traded her legal briefs for the West Wing.