Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon accepts job with St. Louis-area law firm

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has lined up a job in the private sector.

Nixon told the Star Saturday he’ll be joining the Dowd Bennett law firm in suburban St. Louis when he leaves office Jan. 10. He’ll join a firm co-founded by a former U.S. Attorney — and the current firm of former U.S. Sen. Jack Danforth, a Republican.

The law firm’s website says its lawyers focus “on high-stakes litigation and trials, internal and governmental investigations, and appellate representation.”

Nixon said he wasn’t sure when he’ll start work. He plans to take a few weeks off after leaving office, he said, to “get some sun.”

The Democrat, 60, has been in public office for 30 years — first as a state legislator, then attorney general, and finally as the state’s 55th governor.

This story was originally published December 10, 2016 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon accepts job with St. Louis-area law firm."