She started her career at the law firm of Arnold & Porter from 1986 to 1989 and then at the criminal defense law firm of Asbill, Junkin, Myers & Buffone from 1989 to 1991, both law firms located in Washington, D.C. From 1991 to 1998, she was a trial attorney in the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights division at the United States Department of Justice.

Beginning in 1998, she served as an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of New York, except for a four-month period in 2008, when she served as deputy commissioner for enforcement for the New York State Division of Human Rights.

During her service in the United States Attorney's office, she held many supervisory positions, including chief of the civil rights section and deputy chief of the public integrity section.

[5] On January 2, 2013, her nomination was returned to the President, due to the sine die adjournment of the Senate.

Her nomination was reported by the Senate Judiciary Committee on February 14, 2013, by a voice vote.