Government-to-Firm Hiring in DC Doubles in 2025
Law360 reported on a historic surge in lateral hiring from the federal government to BigLaw, with 2025 marking an unprecedented year for government-to-firm movement in Washington, DC
According to data from legal data company Firm Prospects, firms hired 507 attorneys from the federal government in DC in 2025—double the 255 government attorneys who moved to firms during the last post-presidential election year in 2021. The increase represents nearly threefold growth compared to 2024.
Rachel Nonaka, a partner at Macrae, described the shift as transformative. "2025 is a year that no recruiter will forget," she told Law360. "The volume in DC of government officials just changed the landscape tremendously."
The dramatic increase stemmed from multiple factors beyond typical post-election turnover, including the Trump administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce and shift agency priorities. Despite the influx of candidates, the market proved exceptionally competitive, with many applicants who would have been automatic hires in previous years not considered in 2025. Industry observers expect government-to-firm hiring to normalize in 2026.
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