Two senators who just left Congress are joining a major law firm that seeks to influence policymaking.

Republican Robert Bennett and Democrat Byron Dorgan are joining Arent Fox LLP, which lobbies on a host of issues including health care, trade, and technology and financial policy.

Dorgan, who retired from his North Dakota Senate seat after 18 years, will be co-chairman of the firm's government relations practice. Bennett, who lost his nomination to a fourth term in Utah because of the Tea Party movement, will be a senior advisor in the law firm's Los Angeles office.

It is a time-honored tradition for ex-lawmakers to join the ranks of law firms with lobbying shops. Rules in Congress prohibit former House members from lobbying their ex-colleagues for a year and senators have a two-year waiting period.

But former members can immediately advise clients on how to maneuver the halls of Congress and influence policy before actually registering as lobbyists.

Mark M. Katz, chairman of Arent Fox, said that Bennett and Dorgan "bring a remarkable amount of leadership, knowledge and experience in key policy areas." He said in a statement that the former senators "will add a tremendous amount of proven strategic, policy and business expertise" to the firm."

Bennett and Dorgan each served stints in their party's Senate leadership committees. They also served on some of the Senate's most powerful committees, with Bennett helping to allocate federal funds from the Appropriations committee and Dorgan shaping tax policy on the Finance Committee.

(Posted by Catalina Camia)