During the same period he was health officer of New London County. He also held the post of corporation counsel of Norwich in 1901, 1902, and from 1919 to 1922, served as prosecuting attorney of Norwich in 1905, and was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1904 and 1916.
Higgins was admitted to the bar in 1897, and commenced practice in Norwich, Connecticut. He served as a member of the state house of representatives in 1899 and 1900, as well as a member of the Republican State Central Committee from 1900 to 1905.