Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt joins national law firm Husch Blackwell

After taking time off since leaving office, former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is entering the private sector, joining a national law firm where he may work for other state attorneys general.

"I am very pleased to have started today a new position as a partner in the State Attorney General Practice at Husch Blackwell, and I'm excited to represent our great clients nationwide while remaining based in Kansas!" Schmidt said in a Facebook post.

Schmidt served as Kansas attorney general from his 2010 election until January 2023. He ran against Gov. Laura Kelly for governor and lost the November 2022 election.

He waited several months between leaving public service and entering the private sector.

"As I left public office on January 9 of this year — after 30 years in public service including the past 22 as an elected state officer — a wise friend advised me to 'take six months' before deciding what comes next," Schmidt said. "Great advice!

"The past seven months have been refreshing — spending time with family, vacationing in Europe, accomplishing some badly needed decluttering in house and garage, finishing various projects that had lingered for years, attending to health and dropping 45 pounds, focusing on cleaning up and improving our farm, and just generally rebalancing. This time has been a blessing I did not seek. Now I'm ready for my next professional undertaking in the private sector."

More: Above all else, Derek Schmidt proud of stability he brought to attorney general's office

A Republican from Independence, Schmidt spent 10 years in the Kansas Legislature, including time as the Senate Majority Leader. He previously worked as a legislative aide to U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum, as an assistant Kansas attorney general and as special counsel to Gov. Bill Graves.

Schmidt could still be involved with Kansas government through his new job. He is in the virtual office of Husch Blackwell's state attorneys general practice, which helps attorneys general on litigation, investigations, public policy and other areas.

Husch Blackwell has two current contracts with Kansas state government. They are in the attorney general's civil attorney pool and they are outside counsel for the Kansas Insurance Department. The law firm has also previously provided contracted legal services to the Kansas Board of Regents, the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Health Care Stabilization Fund.

Jason Alatidd is a statehouse reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached by email at jtidd@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason_Alatidd.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt joins national law firm