She served as an attorney in the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice and the Chairperson of the D.C Law Revisions Commission. She has been a partner in a law firm in Washington D.C. and a member of the American Bar Association.

Most of her career was spent at Howard University where she served as a lecturer, later becoming a full professor and serving as an associate of students and dean of law.

Patricia has also served as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and an alternate delegate to both the UN General Assembly and the Economic Commission for Europe.

Because of her extensive experience, Patricia Harris was in great demand as a member of corporate boards of directors and on governmental task forces. Her lengthy list of awards includes being named Woman of the Year by the Ladies Home Journal, receiving the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, the Distinguished Service Award of the Council of Jewish Federations, and the Order of the Oaken Crown of Luxembourg.