Overview
- An internal March 13 memo authorizes U.S. attorneys’ offices to waive the one-year post–law school experience requirement for assistant U.S. attorneys until February 28, 2027, citing an exigent hiring need.
- New vacancy postings in districts including Minnesota, Southern Florida, Montana, Alaska, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma now require only a law degree and active bar membership.
- Reporting attributes the hiring shift to widespread departures since President Trump’s return, with roughly 5,000–5,500 DOJ employees leaving through firings, resignations, or retirements.
- Offices that historically required two to three years of practice have relaxed those local thresholds, reflecting a broader effort to refill depleted ranks quickly.
- A DOJ spokesperson defended the policy as empowering young prosecutors, while legal observers warn that adding entry‑level lawyers could exacerbate recent court complaints about missed deadlines and uneven filings.