Private practice, Davenport, Iowa, 1852-1853
County attorney, Scott County, Iowa, 1853-1858
Judge, Iowa District Court, Seventh Judicial District, 1858-1862
Justice, Iowa Supreme Court, 1862-1868
Professor of law, Columbia University, 1879-1882
Private practice, New York City, 1882-1914
Storrs professor of law, Yale University, 1891-1892