‘Character and Judgment’: Chris Christie Reflects on the Value of Public Service in Discussion at Georgetown Law

“Everybody can learn the law,” said Christie of the role of lawyers during the question-and-answer session, which was convened by the Georgetown Law Federalist Society. “What people really hire you for are two things: character and judgment.”

Christie reflected on the lessons learned from his tenure in public service, first as United States attorney for New Jersey from 2002 to 2008 and then as the 55th governor of New Jersey from 2010 to 2018. The obligation for lawyers to uphold the law “is even starker when you get into public service,” he noted, reflecting on his approach to public corruption cases as U.S. attorney and his gubernatorial response to crises such as Hurricane Sandy and the opioid epidemic.

Christie, who currently serves as the managing member of the Christie Law Firm and Christie 55 Solutions, advised the students in the audience to consider spending time in both private practice and public service. “I think you can have a more complete, more full experience as a lawyer by experiencing both,” he said.

He also offered tips on effective oral advocacy and underscored the importance of remaining flexible in the face of unexpected career opportunities, as well as the value of bipartisanship in building consensus in politics — including being critical of one’s own party.

“If you really want to have credibility, call out the people in your own party who are not playing the game the way the game should be played,” he said.

For the students in the audience, the event offered an opportunity to hear valuable insights about how to build a meaningful legal career. “Governor Christie is a great American, a remarkable role model and a dedicated public servant who has fought tirelessly for the American people,” said Federalist Society President Brady Marzen, F’22, L’25, who moderated the discussion. “His contributions to our nation — along with the excellent advice he shared with us — make it clear that Governor Christie represents the best of our legal profession.”

At the end of the discussion, Christie urged the students in the audience to use their legal training to advocate on behalf of the common good. “You earned the privilege of being here,” he said. “Now, the question is, what will you do with it?”