From Politics to Partnership – My Journey into Law

Jesse Taylor, litigation partner at our Columbus office, shares his journey to partnership, and the many development opportunities that helped him along the way.

When I graduated college in 2003, I didn’t imagine I’d end up as a partner at Squire Patton Boggs. My first job was at a law firm, but it wasn’t the right fit at the time. I pivoted into politics and worked for Congressman Ted Strickland, who later became Governor of Ohio. While my role wasn’t legal, I worked closely with attorneys and found myself drawn to their work. That’s when I decided to go to law school.

I studied at the University of Michigan from 2008 to 2011 – not a lightly made choice for someone from Ohio, where the rivalry runs deep. After law school, I clerked for two federal judges, before my wife and I decided to move back to Columbus to raise our family. We both applied to Squire Patton Boggs in 2018, and we’re both still here.

I joined as a Level 1 associate, was promoted to Level 2 the following year, and eventually made partner. A big part of that journey was Aspire, our learning and development program designed to prepare associates for partnership. It was eye-opening. Until then, I thought advancing only meant doing good work and getting good reviews. Aspire taught me that becoming a partner is about much more: managing clients, developing business, leading teams, fostering relationships. It gave me a clear, unvarnished view of what partnership really involves.

What stood out was how the firm supported – and still supports – that transition. At other firms, friends told me becoming partner meant getting a new email signature and figuring it out on your own. Here, it’s different. Even after Aspire ended, I continued to receive support and advocacy from leaders around me. I’ve had incredible mentors and now enjoy mentoring others, both formally and informally. We’re not hierarchical here – partners and associates build real relationships. I remember never feeling afraid to ask the “dumb” questions early on, and I try to foster that environment for others.

On a personal note, the firm has been incredibly supportive of my family life. My wife and I have two kids, and I still have time to be a supportive, involved husband and father, whether it’s playing limbo with a broomstick or attending a tae kwon do graduation. One of my proudest moments was becoming partner and walking into a room to find my family there to celebrate. My 4-year-old ran up and hugged me before I even processed what was going on. That moment captured everything I love about this place – professional achievement and personal support, all in one.