When Kamala Harris took the oath of office in 2021, her husband, Doug Emhoff, didn't just get a new title. He got a whole new life. People were constantly asking, what does Kamala Harris’s husband do now that he’s not a high-powered entertainment lawyer?
Honestly, it was a weird transition. He went from billing $1.2 million a year at a global law firm to picking out the right mezuzah for the Vice President’s residence. But as of 2026, the picture is much clearer. Doug Emhoff hasn't just been "the husband." He’s carved out a niche that mixes high-level legal work with some pretty intense public advocacy.
Back to the Legal Grind (With a Twist)
For a long time, Doug was the guy you called if you were a massive corporation or a Hollywood studio with a legal headache. He spent thirty years in the trenches. We’re talking about a guy who defended the ad agency behind the "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" chihuahua.
After stepping away from his law firm, DLA Piper, to avoid any messy conflicts of interest during the Biden-Harris administration, many wondered if he’d ever go back. Well, he did. In early 2025, after his time as Second Gentleman wrapped up, Doug joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP as a partner.
But it’s not exactly the same as before. He’s splitting his time between Los Angeles and New York now. Instead of just grinding out litigation, he’s advising boards of directors on "significant legal matters"—basically the kind of stuff that involves global policy and complex business challenges. It’s less "courtroom drama" and more "high-stakes strategy."
Professor Emhoff is Still in the Building
One of the cooler things he did while his wife was in the White House was teach. He started as a "Distinguished Visiting Professor" at Georgetown Law, teaching a course on entertainment law disputes.
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Think about that for a second. Imagine sitting in a 9:00 AM law seminar and your professor is the guy who has a Secret Service detail waiting in the hallway. He’s joked about it before, saying the "weirdness" of him being the Second Gentleman usually wore off after about five minutes.
As of late 2025 and moving into 2026, he’s actually returned to his alma mater. He is now a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the USC Gould School of Law. He’s teaching things like:
- Media and Entertainment Law
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- The role of lawyers in a democracy
He seems to genuinely love it. He’s mentioned in interviews that he wanted to "impart experiences" to the next generation. It’s a way for him to keep one foot in the academic world while still being a heavy hitter in private practice.
The Fight Against Antisemitism
If you really want to know what does Kamala Harris’s husband do that actually moves the needle, you have to look at his advocacy work. Being the first Jewish spouse of a Vice President wasn't just a trivia fact for him. He took it personally.
He became the face of the administration’s "National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism." This wasn't just some fluffy photo-op role. He traveled to Auschwitz. He met with survivors. He went to summer camps in Pennsylvania to talk to Jewish kids about not being afraid of their identity.
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Even now, out of office, he hasn't dropped this. He’s still a leading voice on religious tolerance. It’s become a core part of his public identity. He’s often seen at events for the Tree of Life synagogue or speaking at international forums about the "epidemic of hate."
The "Second Gentleman" Legacy
It’s worth noting that Doug Emhoff literally had to invent his job. Before him, there was no such thing as a "Second Gentleman." There was no manual.
He spent four years traveling to over 40 states and 15 countries. He did the stuff you’d expect—visiting pro bono legal clinics and supporting small businesses—but he also leaned into topics men in his position don't usually talk about. He talked a lot about "toxic masculinity" and the importance of men supporting their partners' careers without feeling diminished by it.
"She said this issue found me – she literally said, 'Now you've got to step up.'" — Doug Emhoff on his advocacy work.
What’s He Doing Right Now?
So, if you ran into Doug Emhoff today in 2026, what would his "day job" look like? Basically, a mix of three things:
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- Law Partner: Working with big-name clients at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
- Academic: Prepping syllabus materials for his classes at USC.
- Public Figure: Appearing at summits and conferences to push back against antisemitism and hate speech.
He’s also stayed very active in his wife's political world. Whether she’s eyeing a run for Governor of California or looking toward 2028, Doug is clearly the "support staff" in chief. He’s often the one "drumming up support" on social media or doing the heavy lifting at campaign fundraisers.
Honestly, his career path is a pretty wild blueprint for anyone looking to reinvent themselves. He went from a corporate lawyer to a history-making public servant, and now he’s a hybrid of an educator, an advocate, and a legal strategist.
If you're looking to follow his moves or understand the legal landscape he’s working in, your best bet is to keep an eye on the USC Gould School of Law faculty updates or the latest partnership news from Willkie Farr & Gallagher. He’s not exactly keeping a low profile these days.
To get a better sense of the specific legal strategies he’s teaching, you can look up the "Entertainment Law Disputes" course descriptions at Georgetown or USC—they give a pretty good window into the "real world" cases he handled during his 30 years in the Los Angeles legal scene.