after baker's term as governor expired he retired from public office and reopened his law office. his new partner was his former political opponent, thomas hendricks. after hendricks was elected governor in 1872, baker took on state attorney general oscar b. hord and chief justice of the indiana supreme court samuel perkins as partners. the law firm was passed on to baker's son, and has since became one of the leading law firms in the united states, baker & daniels llp.