During his political activities, he found time to join a law firm in San Francisco, Halleck, Peachy & Billings, which became so successful that he resigned his commission in 1854.
Ind imellem sine politiske aktiviteter fik han tid til at gå ind i et advokatfirma i San Francisco, Halleck, Peachy, and Billings, som fik så meget succes, at han trådte ud af hæren i 1854.