Harris worked briefly for the U.S. Department of Justice Her first position with the U.S. government was in 1960 as an attorney in the appeals and research section of the criminal division of the Department of Justice.
There she met and struck up a friendship with Robert F. Kennedy, the new attorney general.
In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed her co-chairman of the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.

In 1961, Harris returned to her alma mater, Howard University, as an associate dean of students and law lecturer at Howard's law school.
In 1963 she was elevated to a full professorship.

In 1964, Harris was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from the District of Columbia.
She worked in Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign and seconded his nomination at the 1964 Democratic Convention.
Soon after his victory, President Johnson appointed her Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1965 to 1967.
She was the first African American woman named as an American envoy.
 She said, "I feel deeply proud and grateful this President chose me to knock down this barrier, but also a little sad about being the 'first Negro woman' because it implies we were not considered before."

She was named Dean of Howard University's School of Law in 1969, which was another first for a black woman.
She resigned a month later as Dean of Howard University's School of Law when Howard University President James E. Cheek refused to support her strong stand against student protests.
Following her service as Dean of Howard's School of Law, she joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, one of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious law firms.

In 1971, Harris was named to the board of directors of IBM.
In addition, she served on the boards of Scott Paper Co. and Chase Manhattan Bank.

She continued making an impact on the Democratic Party when, in 1972, she was appointed chairman of the credentials committee and a member-at-large of the Democratic National Committee in 1973.
A testimony to her effectiveness and her commitment to excellence came when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to two cabinet-level posts during his administration.
Harris worked briefly for the U.S. Department of Justice Her first position with the U.S. government was in 1960 as an attorney in the appeals and research section of the criminal division of the Department of Justice. There she met and struck up a friendship with Robert F. Kennedy, the new attorney general. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed her co-chairman of the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.
In 1961, Harris returned to her alma mater, Howard University, as an associate dean of students and law lecturer at Howard's law school. In 1963 she was elevated to a full professorship.
In 1964, Harris was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from the District of Columbia. She worked in Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign and seconded his nomination at the 1964 Democratic Convention. Soon after his victory, President Johnson appointed her Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1965 to 1967. She was the first African American woman named as an American envoy.  She said, "I feel deeply proud and grateful this President chose me to knock down this barrier, but also a little sad about being the 'first Negro woman' because it implies we were not considered before."
She was named Dean of Howard University's School of Law in 1969, which was another first for a black woman. She resigned a month later as Dean of Howard University's School of Law when Howard University President James E. Cheek refused to support her strong stand against student protests. Following her service as Dean of Howard's School of Law, she joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, one of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious law firms.
In 1971, Harris was named to the board of directors of IBM. In addition, she served on the boards of Scott Paper Co. and Chase Manhattan Bank.
She continued making an impact on the Democratic Party when, in 1972, she was appointed chairman of the credentials committee and a member-at-large of the Democratic National Committee in 1973. A testimony to her effectiveness and her commitment to excellence came when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to two cabinet-level posts during his administration.
Patricia Roberts Harris