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Some federal lawyers want to leave. They can't find jobs because Trump's policies are closing typical exit paths.



Every time a new president takes office, the "revolving door" between the federal government and the private sector spins — experienced officials leave public service for lucrative roles in law firms, corporations, or consulting. But in 2024, that door has jammed.

Under former President Donald Trump’s administration, the usual rhythm of political appointments and transitions was disrupted. Trump and his allies made it clear they were not just replacing Biden appointees — they aimed to purge thousands of career civil servants seen as resistant to their agenda. Trump aide Russell Vought infamously said the goal was to “put them in trauma” and make them want to quit. Meanwhile, the administration de-emphasized areas like financial regulation and corporate crime enforcement, traditional off-ramps for lawyers seeking private-sector employment.

As a result, many federal lawyers are finding the job market far less welcoming than in past administrations.

 A Market Oversupplied with Talent

Washington law firms, long eager to hire former federal prosecutors and regulators, are now inundated with applications from departing government lawyers. Yet demand has not kept pace.

Karen Vladeck, founder of legal recruiting firm Risepoint Search Partners, noted that white-collar criminal defense hiring is down across the board. Law firms are more selective, offering lower compensation and expecting higher business development skills than before. One headhunter told *Business Insider* that only very senior former prosecutors are getting interviews — and even they’re seeing pay cuts. Where a top-tier candidate might once have commanded $1 million or more, today’s offers often max out around $750,000.

Jack Zaremski of Hanover Search Partners added that Big Law already has a deep bench of white-collar litigators, and there's simply not enough work to go around. The decline in white-collar prosecutions has been steady since the Obama era. According to Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), annual filings in white-collar criminal cases have dropped from over 10,000 in the 1990s to about 4,300 today.

 A Shift in Enforcement Priorities

Trump’s skepticism toward aggressive white-collar enforcement has reshaped the legal landscape. His Justice Department slashed the corruption unit, moved to merge its tax division into other departments, and paused enforcement under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act — at least temporarily. He also issued pardons benefiting individuals and companies that owed over $1.3 billion in penalties for fraud and evasion.

For some ex-prosecutors, this environment presents challenges — but also opportunities. Matthew Burke, a former member of Jack Smith’s team that prosecuted Trump on classified documents charges, found doors closed in some corners of the legal world. But he was recruited by Scale LLP, a tech-focused firm, to lead its investigations practice.

"There undoubtedly were doors that were closed to me because of what I've done, but there will also be doors that will be opened," Burke said.

 Regulatory Lawyers Feel the Pinch Too

Federal lawyers specializing in financial regulation are also feeling the squeeze. The Trump administration attempted to shrink the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), though court rulings have largely blocked those efforts. Still, uncertainty looms. One former CFPB lawyer described a resigned attitude among remaining staff: “They’re gonna have to drag me out of here.”

While some former CFPB officials have landed roles at fintech firms, banks, and law firms, others are struggling to find comparable positions.

Not All Sectors Are Equally Affected

Not every area of federal legal expertise faces the same downturn. Lawyers with experience in international trade, export controls, and sanctions compliance remain in high demand, particularly among tech companies navigating geopolitical tensions. Antitrust lawyers also continue to see strong interest from private-sector employers.

Charles Cain, former head of the SEC’s FCPA Unit, recently joined EY after several colleagues also left the agency. These moves suggest that certain specialties still command value, but they're exceptions rather than the rule.

Civil rights attorneys, meanwhile, face an especially tough market. Stacey Young, a former Justice Department attorney and leader of the networking group Justice Connection, said competition is fierce for a shrinking number of relevant roles.

 Adapting to a New Reality

Despite relatively low unemployment among legal professionals — 2.1% nationally in May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics — federal lawyers can no longer rely on the traditional path from DOJ to Big Law.

Vladeck advises candidates to think of job hunting as a game of Trivial Pursuit: success requires covering all six categories — boutique firms, in-house counsel roles, nonprofits, startups, legal-adjacent industries, and government relations or lobbying.

“You can’t rely on the DOJ to the Big Law path,” she said.

In short, the revolving door is still spinning — but slower, creakier, and requiring more effort from those trying to walk through it.