Lawyers have been cycling between government and private practice since the country's founding. But with the prospect of divided government in Washington helping prompt some lawyers in the federal government to eye the exits, such moves may be picking up speed.

Below are a handful of this year's shift changes that had a particularly notable impact on law and government in D.C. and beyond—and that may lead to another spin in or out of government in 2019.

Jon Kyl

Jon Kyl, who ping-ponged again this year between the U.S. Senate and Covington & Burling, has already helped to shape two branches of the U.S. government under the Trump administration.

Upon retiring from the U.S. Senate as the second-highest-ranking Republican in 2013, Kyl joined Covington as senior of counsel. Since the election of President Donald Trump, his expertise and relationships led to roles shepherding former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh through bruising confirmation processes in consecutive years.