krislov began his law career as a clerk for judge marilyn hall patel of the u.s. district court for the northern district of california in san francisco. from 1989 to 1993 he served in an honors program at the u.s. department of justice, prosecuting cases involving police brutality and racial violence. he then spent three years at the white house counsel's office before moving to the u.s. department of labor, where he served as acting solicitor of labor until leaving the office to become vice president and general counsel at the university of michigan.