SAN FRANCISCO - Jeff Bleich, a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson, immediate past president of the State Bar and a die-hard fan of President Barack Obama, has been asked to join the Obama administration as special counsel to the president.

Bleich, 47, was co-chair of Obama's presidential campaign in California and is a longtime personal friend. He's been considered a strong contender for one of the administration's top legal posts, including solicitor general.

As special counsel, Bleich will spend only three to four months in Washington D.C., providing legal advice to the Office of the President. Bleich said in an interview with the Daily Journal Friday that the opportunity works well with both his personal and professional priorities.

"This is the perfect opportunity to serve my country and not force my family to bear the brunt of those changes," said Bleich, whose children are aged 10, 13 and 16.

Bleich's relationship with Obama goes back 18 years to when Bleich was clerking for Judge Abner J. Mikva on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. One of Bleich's colleagues knew Obama, who was then editor of the Harvard Law Review, and Bleich tried unsuccessfully to recruit Obama to clerk for the judge.

"Judge Mikva took one look at Barack's resume and said, 'That's the kind of person I'm interested in hiring,'" Bleich recalled.

Bleich went on to join Munger Tolles, and Obama went into politics. The two crossed paths again, Bleich said, when Obama was on the presidential campaign trail. Obama also did a book signing at the firm.

Bleich is no stranger to the inner workings of Washington or the political scene.

In 1999, Bleich was appointed by President Bill Clinton as director of the White House Commission on Youth Violence following the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado. Last year he served simultaneously as president of the State Bar and as California co-chair for Obama's campaign.

Bleich will take leave from the firm starting March 23 for the interim assignment.

"We're thrilled for Jeff," Munger co-managing partner, Sandra Seville-Jones said in a statement. "We thrive, as lawyers, in handling some of our client's most difficult challenges. Jeff has proven time and again his ability to counsel clients and lead public institutions. We are proud that President Obama has called upon Jeff to join him in Washington, and that Jeff will be serving our country during this critical time. We also look forward to his return."

amelia_hansen@dailyjournal.com