Erik received his Juris Doctorate degree from the George Washington University Law School in 2003. Later that same year, Erik began his legal career as an associate in the Washington D.C. office of Bracewell LLP, a full service law firm that specializes in assisting clients with energy and natural resource issues. Erik eventually left private practice in order to accept a position in the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice. While there, Erik served as lead defense counsel in a number of cases involving wildlife and marine resource issues. At the same time, Erik taught administrative law at the George Washington University.