He became a partner in the firm (renamed Burchell, Smith, Parker and Fogo) in 1926, and was appointed King's Counsel in 1938.
He was President of the Nova Scotia Liberal Association from 1939 to 1941 where he became a protégé of William Lyon Mackenzie King.
Reporting his appointment, Time magazine characterized him as "a reliable worker behind the scenes, whose political gift is to stop bootless quarreling and secure quiet settlements".
[1] Impressed by his relative youth and energy, a contemporary newspaper editorialized, "what the Senate needs is fewer old fogeys and more young Fogos!
[2] As the Ottawa Journal mused, "a long and brilliant future seemed to stretch before him, making more the pity of his going while at the zenith of his powers.