Opportunity in Service for Others
The Magazine chatted with Alumnus of the Year Brendan McGuire ’ 90 about his public and private-sector spanning legal career and the influence that Saint David ’ s has had on his life .
What drew you to the legal field and to public service ? The versatility of a legal degree always appealed to me ; it affords the ability to do a number of different things with the degree itself , as well as to go in and out of public service .
What aspect of the law do you find most fulfilling ?
Problem solving , which is why I found working for the city so fulfilling . In city government , there are a high number of difficult , multi-layer problems that have legal , political , policy , and economic implications . Trying to help clients reach some clarity in a complex situation is quite fulfilling .
What did you learn as Chief Counsel to the Mayor - both about yourself and New York City ?
Let me preface by saying that I have a strong love for the city . I was fortunate to serve at the federal level for over a decade as a prosecutor , where I felt a sense of mission , service , and purpose every day . You felt you could move the needle in the right direction each day . When the opportunity to work for the city presented itself a couple of years ago , it was another opportunity to put my experience to use at what was a particularly challenging time , as the city was coming out of Covid . As with every new administration , there was a need for experience and expertise in different areas . I felt I could fulfill that need for the Mayor and city .
What I learned about myself was the degree to which I enjoy being the dumbest guy in the room . It was very much a stretching experience both personally and professionally . There was a breadth to the job unlike anything I had ever experienced before .
What I learned about the city ? It ’ s an incredible operation , with over 300,000 employees . The number of talented people who dedicate themselves to making the city run , to improving the lives of the 8 1 ⁄ 2 million people who live there , and for all who visit , is remarkable . Also , perhaps surprisingly , you realize that despite its size there is tangible opportunity for a single individual to make a discernible impact . The way in which the government is organized , you can move in an impactful way where you see meaningful results relatively quickly .
20 • Saint David ’ s Magazine