[1] Lazarus graduated from University High School in Urbana, Illinois.
Prior to his arrival at Georgetown in 1996, Lazarus taught at the Law School at Washington University in St. Louis (1989–1996) and the Indiana University Maurer School of Law (1983–1985) and worked in the Solicitor General's Office (1986–1989) and the Land and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice (1979–1983).
Lazarus was previously the Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.
[5] He was appointed Executive Director of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling in June 2010.
[6] In November 2020, Lazarus was named a volunteer member of the Joe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to the United States Department of Justice.