DOJ to Allow Hiring of US Prosecutors Straight Out of Law School

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Bloomberg Law

Exclusive
DOJ to Allow Hiring of US Prosecutors Straight Out of Law School

March 16, 2026, 5:04 PM EDT
Ben Penn
Senior Reporter

The Justice Department has waived a policy requiring newly hired federal prosecutors to possess at least one year of experience practicing law, as US attorneys’ offices struggle to find qualified replacements following mass departures.

Many offices have previously adopted their own rules mandating at least three years of legal practice, rather than the nationwide baseline threshold of one year. But the reduced standards this month would allow federal districts such as Minnesota and Southern Florida that have experienced significant attrition to put new prosecutors to work straight out of law school.

The move was confirmed by two people familiar with the matter and reflected in newly-posted online vacancy announcements in at least a handful of offices.

The postings for assistant US attorney openings in Minnesota, South Florida, Montana, Alaska, and Louisiana, list a law degree and active state bar membership as required qualifications. They don’t mention a minimum period of service, while other US attorney’s offices still mandate at least one or three years out of law school.

{snip}

To contact the reporter on this story: Ben Penn in Washington at [e-mail]

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Seth Stern at [e-mail]

Read more: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/doj-to-allow-hiring-of-us-prosecutors-straight-out-of-law-school

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Ransacked Hat
‪@kenwhite.bsky.social‬

It is outrageous to hire people into the incredibly powerful and meaningful position of AUSA right out of law school. They should clerk for a year.

‪National Security Counselors 🕵‬
‪@nationalsecuritylaw.org‬
· 1h
Call them the Bondi Youth

DOJ to Allow Hiring of US Prosecutors Straight Out of Law School
The Justice Department has waived a policy requiring newly hired federal prosecutors to possess at least one year of experience practicing law, as US attorney’s offices struggle to find qualified repl...
news.bloomberglaw.com
5:44 PM · Mar 16, 2026

It is outrageous to hire people into the incredibly powerful and meaningful position of AUSA right out of law school. They should clerk for a year.

— We No Longer “Need” Popehat (@kenwhite.bsky.social) 2026-03-16T21:44:54.132Z

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Just like psychology - pre-licensed professional

Everything is getting worse, degrading. Experience matters. Or it did.

[underpants]

6. Habba, Halligan, and Pirro

yeah who cares about experience?

[walkingman]

2. Quite sure it is more likely from Liberty U. vs Harvard.....the bar is very, very low.

[sheshe2]

7. Pirro can attest to that...

she is under the bar most days.

[annabanana]

3. HA! BEWARE Grads..It's a TRAP

Anyone fool enough to TAKE a job with this DOJ had better have some kind of night gig...

[Marie Marie]

9. Yup, kiss your career and future goodbye.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

15. Good chance of ending up in prison.

[underpants]

4. Sounds like a flood of Liberty and Regent U ideologues

as well as up and comers who post on social media.

Minnesota sounds more like a target rather than alleviating workload.

[msongs]

5. hitler youth are available. swear allegiance to the fuhrer and you're in nt

[Buddyzbuddy]

8. "DOJ will allow" them as direct hires. Don't you mean DOJ is begging and pleading.

Of course they have to get through that tough screening process. "Do you promise to call the President, daddy? And to kiss his big fat ugly arse all day, everyday, and do everything just as you're told to without thought no matter if it's unethical or illegal?"
Yes, then your in.

[Skittles]

10. ONLY TRUMP WHORES NEED APPLY

YES INDEED

edited to add: it would appear the Trump Whore pool is getting smaller and smaller

[Mysterian]

11. If you sieg heil fuhrer trump, you're qualified.

No knowledge of the constitution required.

[PeaceWave]

12. Someone watched My Cousin Vinny one too many times.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

13. I didn't go to law school, but I've seen My Cousin Vinny, Matlock, and Suits. Is that good enough? nt

[BaronChocula]

14. DOJ to Allow Hiring of US Prosecutors Straight Out of Hooters

There. I fixed it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

17. As waitstaff or as customers? NT

[BaronChocula]

18. Hiring from the waitstaff for sure

It's all about "pretty faces" etc. with this stooge.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. Is "DOJ" pronounced like "DOGE"?

They seem to have the same hiring requireents.