She received a Juris Doctor magna cum laude, in 2000 from Howard University School of Law.

After graduating from university, DeArcy Hall worked many jobs in the service industry to pay off her student loans.

[1] In 1993 she was an administrative employee at a temporary employment agency and later was a scheduler for Congressman Floyd Flake of New York.

She was formerly a partner at the law firm of Morrison & Foerster where she served as a commercial litigation trial lawyer.

[7][4] On December 16, 2014, her nomination was returned to the President due to the sine die adjournment of the 113th Congress.