A sweeping hiring freeze enacted by President Donald Trump has left thousands of law students reeling as government career opportunities vanish almost overnight. The latest action, which affects numerous federal agencies, has seen the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other key employers retract job offers to third-year law students and cancel summer internship programs, upending months of hard work and anticipation.
In what appears to be a broader ripple effect, federal agencies have also pulled out of recruitment events and removed legal job listings, disrupting the trajectory of students counting on these positions to jump-start their careers. For many, including over 2,000 law students, this freeze means a future of uncertainty. Some law schools report that multiple students had their offers rescinded, with major institutions like the University of Richmond noting this widespread impact.
The freeze does not extend to judicial clerkships, which are funded separately, but it has cast a shadow over other sought-after government roles. Agencies like the DOJ, IRS, and HUD, which usually participate in high-profile networking events, have cancelled their spots, leaving schools scrambling to adapt.
At George Washington Law, where more than a dozen students lost internship opportunities, Associate Dean Suzanne Hard voiced concerns about the long-term consequences. The DOJ alone, a massive employer for law graduates, has rescinded offers from its prestigious honors program, a program that places over 200 third-year students in permanent roles each year.
Beyond job losses, this freeze impacts the crucial summer internships that serve as stepping stones into full-time positions. Law students who rely on these experiences to build their resumes now face a bleak summer without opportunities that once paved the way to government employment.
As the full scope of the freeze continues to unfold, experts worry that the loss of these internships and permanent job offers will create a widening gap in the pipeline of future federal attorneys. For law students aiming to secure a government position, it’s a chilling reminder of how quickly plans can unravel.