The abrupt end to John Bolton's tenure as national security adviser made headlines for what it means for the Trump Administration and for the country's foreign policy. But where does it leave Bolton himself?

Based on his past private sector experience—as of counsel at Kirkland & Ellis and as a think-tanker and regular Fox News talking head—the outspoken foreign policy hawk and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations most likely has plenty of options.

Prior to entering the White House, Bolton was frequent denizen of Washington greenrooms and a familiar face in the halls of the capital's right-leaning think tanks. According to a disclosure filed by Bolton upon entering government, he spent a decade at Fox News after his time in the George W. Bush administration, earning more than $569,000 as a contributor from 2017 through May 2018. He worked at the American Enterprise Institute from 2007 to 2018, drawing earnings of $240,000 in the year-plus covered by his government disclosure, on top of a wealth of speaking fees.

Bolton didn't report any income from Kirkland & Ellis during the year and change before his appointment as national security adviser. He was of counsel at the firm from 2008 until joining the administration in April of 2018. Bolton began his legal career as an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Covington & Burling.

What was Bolton doing at Kirkland? When he arrived in 2008, in the wake of his turn as U.S. ambassador to the U.N., the firm told the Chicago Tribune that he was brought in to "focus on counseling clients on domestic and international issues in complex corporate, litigation, internal investigations, regulatory and competition matters." The only federal litigation in which he made an appearance there was as counsel to Siemens of France in a battle with the Republic of Iraq over alleged collusion with Saddam Hussein in the U.N's scandal-plagued oil for food program.

Kirkland—one of the top feeder firms for Trump administration lawyers—did not respond to request for comment on whether it would invite Bolton back into its ranks. As for other firms that might welcome him, should he be seeking a law firm perch, it's anyone's guess at this point. Among the firms that have eagerly scooped up Trump administration alums is Michael Best & Friedrich, which is home to former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former deputy White House counsel Stefan Passantino, who signed Bolton's disclosure. But there's no indication the firm is courting Bolton.

Bolton could also look to return to the American Enterprise Institute, which looks to be in growth mode. AEI added former House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday, following the hiring of two full-time scholars in its social, cultural and constitutional studies research division late last month. AEI's scholars have taken notice of Bolton's exit from Trump's White House, and posted video of an AEI vice president talking on cable news about Bolton's departure on AEI's website.

If Bolton decides not to return to one of his former homes, there ought to plenty of other opportunities available to him given the appetite for lawyers and ex-administration officials with national security experience in Washington.

Earlier this week, former FBI chief of staff Zack Harmon returned to King & Spalding and reunited with other former federal government officials into the firm's growing national security offerings. Administration insiders with experience in the sanctions space or working before the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States have also been a hot commodity in recent months. As a key administration player whose concerns ranged from Iran to Venezuela, Bolton's advice could be in demand with the clients of several Big Law firms in D.C.