A major wave of attorney departures from the U.S. federal government is rapidly transforming the legal job market, accelerating hiring at major law firms and triggering significant operational changes across key federal agencies. New federal data and private industry analytics show that thousands of government lawyers exited public service in 2025, creating one of the most dramatic workforce shifts in decades.
According to figures from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 8,599 licensed attorneys left the federal government between President Donald Trump’s return to office and November 2025, resulting in a net decline of 6,524 federal lawyers after accounting for new hires. This marks the second-largest annual decrease in federal attorney staffing since 2005, reversing a
long-standing trend of gradual growth in government legal employment.
The sharp reduction has had ripple effects across the legal industry, with
Big Law firms moving aggressively to recruit former government attorneys, while federal agencies face growing challenges in staffing, enforcement capacity, and institutional continuity.
Department of Justice Bears the Brunt
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the federal government’s largest employer of attorneys, has been especially hard hit. Roughly
one-third of departing federal lawyers came from the DOJ, according to OPM data, reflecting widespread attrition across multiple divisions.
Significant losses have been reported in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and Federal Programs Branch, while the department’s Tax Division has been shut down entirely. In addition, officials have scaled back white-collar crime enforcement and other complex litigation initiatives, further reducing the department’s legal footprint.
Beyond attorney losses, the DOJ has experienced a broader contraction, with a net reduction of approximately 8,900 total employees since Trump returned to office. The combined effect of resignations, retirements, and workforce reductions has strained the department’s ability to handle civil litigation, regulatory enforcement, and major investigations.
Legal industry observers report that political tensions, shifting enforcement priorities, and concerns over job stability have contributed to the exodus. In some cases, attorneys left in protest over administration actions or out of concern for perceived politicization within certain divisions.
Law Firms Capitalize on Government Talent
The departure of thousands of experienced government lawyers has created a deep talent pool for private-sector employers. According to data compiled by Firm Prospects, the
200 highest-grossing U.S. law firms hired 1,129 former federal attorneys in 2025.
Those hires accounted for 8.54% of total attorney recruitment at those firms, roughly double the share seen in recent years and significantly higher than hiring levels during Trump’s first term. SurePoint Legal Insights reported similar findings, noting that government lawyers made up approximately 7% of lateral hires in 2025, compared with a historical average of 4% to 5%.
Recruiters describe the surge as unprecedented.
“This is unlike anything that’s ever been seen,” said Firm Prospects President Adam Oliver, citing the scale and speed of the government-to-private-practice migration.
Former federal attorneys bring highly valued experience in regulatory enforcement, litigation strategy, compliance, and administrative law. Their backgrounds make them particularly attractive to firms seeking to expand practices in areas such as government investigations, national security, health care regulation, financial services enforcement, and complex civil litigation.
Not All Transitions Are Seamless
Despite robust demand, not every departing government lawyer has found an easy path into private practice. Recruiters caution that
attorneys without specialized expertise or high-demand skill sets face a more competitive market.
While senior prosecutors and high-ranking agency officials often secure top positions quickly, more junior attorneys and those with narrower practice areas may struggle to land comparable roles. Some have moved to smaller firms, in-house legal departments, or compliance and consulting roles, while others remain in active job searches.
Recruiters in Washington, D.C., reported a noticeable increase in government lawyers reaching out even before Trump’s inauguration, with
inquiry volumes surging further after the administration took office.
“The D.C. market was able to absorb many of those attorneys, but not all,” said one industry recruiter. “Supply exceeded demand on that front.”
Broader Impact on Federal Legal Capacity
While the total number of federal lawyers remains roughly in line with 2017 levels with more than 38,000 attorneys still employed across the federal government analysts warn that the concentration of losses in key divisions could have long-term consequences.
Reductions in civil rights enforcement, tax litigation, and white-collar crime prosecution could limit the government’s ability to pursue complex cases and uphold regulatory standards. Staffing shortages may also increase workloads for remaining attorneys, raising concerns about burnout and further attrition.
Legal experts also note that sustained workforce instability could make it harder for agencies to recruit top legal talent in the future, particularly if perceptions of politicization or job insecurity persist.
A Lasting Shift in the Legal Market
The federal attorney exodus is expected to remain a defining feature of the legal labor market in 2026 and beyond. As law firms continue to absorb former government lawyers, the balance between public service and private practice is shifting, with
Big Law gaining access to a historically large pool of experienced federal attorneys.
For federal agencies, the challenge will be stabilizing staffing levels, maintaining institutional knowledge, and preserving enforcement capacity amid ongoing workforce changes.
As the legal industry adapts, the movement of lawyers from government to
private practice is reshaping not only hiring trends but also the long-term structure of the U.S. legal workforce.
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