From Notre Dame to the White House: Rachel Palermo’s Path to Public Service

Smiling woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a navy blue suit, cream top, and pendant necklace. She sits on a light-colored couch with hands clasped, showing red nail polish. A modern, blurred office background. — *Rachel Palermo ’21 J.D.*

Rachel Palermo ’21 J.D. didn’t wait until after she graduated law school before diving into the heart of American politics.

And her journey—from a law student juggling campaign calls and classes, to advising Kamala Harris during her term as vice president of the United States—reveals the extraordinary possibilities of a legal education grounded in service, intellect, and courage.

Palermo first started on this path prior to law school, when she worked on the 2016 presidential election and spent time doing strategic communications at a public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. Once she started studying at Notre Dame Law School, she took every opportunity to continue fueling her passion for politics and public service.

As a second-year law student, Palermo joined the presidential primary campaign of then-South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

As a member of his legal team, she spent eight months, from August 2019 to March 2020, balancing the rigorous demands of law school with the fast-paced, high-pressure environment of a national campaign, gaining valuable hands-on experience in building a campaign from the ground level.

“Being part of a presidential campaign during such a pivotal time was both exhilarating and challenging,” said Palermo. “Having previously worked in political communications, I loved learning about the legal side of running a campaign on a national level—from compliance efforts to voter protection.”

Kamala Harris in a black suit and a woman in a pink blazer smile broadly in front of the Seal of the President of the United States. — *Rachel Palermo on Air Force 2 with Vice President Kamala Harris in 2023. Photo credit: The White House*

Joining the Biden-Harris Transition Team

At the start of her third year of law school, Palermo volunteered with the Biden-Harris Transition Team, supporting preparations for a potential victory in the upcoming 2020 election. Her role included developing and executing media strategies for important transition announcements, including White House staff appointments.

Then, in early 2021, as many law students were still navigating the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Palermo stepped into a historic moment.

Following the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, she officially joined the new administration on January 20, 2021—Inauguration Day—as assistant press secretary to Vice President Harris. She began the role remotely from South Bend, Indiana, while completing her final semester of law school. The Biden-Harris administration made history by electing the first female vice president, and Palermo’s path into national public service was anything but conventional.

“One of the most memorable challenges was balancing my 8:00 a.m. Evidence class with Professor Gurulé with a 9:30 a.m. daily call with the vice president’s communications team,” she recalled. “I’d literally sprint out of class to take those calls, often sitting in my car to find a quiet space.”

This unconventional setup didn’t slow her down. Rather, it strengthened her ability to operate under pressure and multitask across two demanding roles. By March she had moved to Washington, D.C., finishing her final classes online thanks to remote-learning accommodations put in place during the pandemic. She returned to Notre Dame to graduate and went on to take the bar exam while working in the White House.

Vice President Kamala Harris, in a tan pantsuit, smiles while speaking to a woman in a blue patterned dress inside an airplane cabin. Other passengers are seen seated or standing amongst brown seats. — *Photo credit: The White House*

Vice President’s Advisor

Palermo’s responsibilities quickly expanded. She was promoted to deputy communications director for Vice President Harris, advising her on messaging, briefing her ahead of media interviews and other public engagements, and managing the communications team’s daily operations, including the press, digital, and speechwriting teams. Palermo’s work took her across the country and beyond, engaging with the media and ensuring that the vice president’s voice resonated on critical issues.

Two years into the Biden-Harris administration, Palermo stepped into an additional role as associate counsel to the vice president, where she focused on oversight requests and ensuring compliance with ethics and election laws—a vital component of upholding integrity within the administration. This unique combination of legal and communication responsibilities allowed her to bridge the gap between policy and public messaging, reinforcing the importance of transparency in government.

Three panelists, two women and a man, sit on red stools at a BBC US Elections 2024 set. A blonde woman in black gestures while speaking to a dark-haired woman in purple and a bald man in a blue blazer. A large DNC 2024 convention crowd fills the arena background. — *Rachel Palermo during a BBC interview at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 2024*

Even as she made her mark in public service, Palermo remained grounded in the issues that first drew her to law school. At Notre Dame, she served as the president of the Women’s Legal Forum and as the managing articles editor for the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. She wrote her journal note on Title IX, examining challenges women face in higher education and proposing solutions. A course on Gender Issues and International Law with Professor Christine Venter further deepened her understanding of systemic inequity and the legal tools available to address it. As a member of the Notre Dame Moot Court Board, she defended a client before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit—demonstrating her early commitment to advocacy at the highest levels.

After three years with the Biden-Harris administration, Palermo became interested in pivoting to private practice so that she could focus on strengthening her legal career, and she joined Jenner & Block as an associate in their Washington, D.C. office. She was drawn to Jenner because of the firm’s Government Controversies and Public Policy Litigation team, which represents clients on a broad range of complex challenges dealing at the intersection of law, policy, and government regulation. But another unexpected opportunity soon came.

Rachel Palermo, a woman with long blonde hair in a green blazer, speaks on CNN. On-screen text reads "Harris & Trump to Face Off for First Time in Presidential Debate." — *Rachel Palermo appears on a CNN interview in September 2024 ahead of the Presidential Debate between Harris and Trump*

A Key Member of the Harris-Walz Team

When President Biden announced he would not seek re-election in July 2024, Harris launched her presidential campaign with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate to challenge then-candidate Donald Trump. Soon after Harris started running for president, Palermo served as a surrogate for the campaign, appearing in dozens of TV interviews about the race and offering insight about Harris’s leadership.

In September 2024, Palermo took a leave of absence from Jenner & Block to become a key member of the Harris-Walz Transition Team. She served as the senior director of confirmations, where she led the team that was preparing for the confirmations of potential administration nominees by the U.S. Senate. Palermo also served as the team’s communications director, leading communications strategy and press engagement.

Palermo has since returned to Jenner & Block, where she leverages her legal and communications background to counsel companies, institutions, and individuals through congressional inquiries and other sensitive investigations. She guides clients on crisis response, often on matters facing intense public scrutiny, and she prepares witnesses for high-stakes appearances before the U.S. Congress and similar government bodies globally.

Her journey continues.