[3] After graduation, he served as a law clerk for Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court of the United States during the 1967-1968 Term.
From 1970, he held a series of federal government appointments and staff positions at the United States Senate, and then several corporate posts in publishing.
In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Brown to the Federal Communications Commission, succeeding Benjamin Hooks.
[7] After approval by the Senate, Brown began his term on November 15, 1977, while continuing his participation in civil rights advocacy.
[14][15][16][17] Later, Brown practiced law at Steptoe & Johnson and at Wiley Rein LLP, as well as serving as president of the Media Access Project from 2010 to 2013.