A sweeping hiring freeze imposed by former President Donald Trump is turning the career dreams of thousands of law students upside down. Federal job markets, particularly for students aiming at prestigious government positions, have been drastically affected. In recent days, several federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, have rescinded permanent job offers extended to third-year law students. The ripple effect has also led to the cancellation of summer internship programs, leaving hundreds of hopeful law students scrambling.
The freeze, part of a 90-day suspension impacting executive branch agencies, has frozen over 2,000 job offers and internships that many students had relied on to build their legal careers. Law schools across the country, including George Washington and the University of Richmond, have reported that federal agencies have backed out of recruiting events and removed job listings from their websites.
“It’s a huge disruption, and it’s not just about DOJ,” says Carl Tobias, a professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. For those expecting to step into their dream roles in agencies like the IRS or EPA, the freeze has turned their plans into uncertainty.
This freeze doesn’t affect judicial clerkships, which are funded separately, but for those who had pinned their hopes on government service, the setback is significant. The Justice Department, the largest employer of law graduates in the federal government, has rescinded offers for its renowned honors program, potentially leaving hundreds of students in the lurch. Agencies that had committed to recruiting law students, including the IRS, EPA, and HUD, have also pulled out of recent hiring events.
For many, summer internships at federal agencies are key to landing full-time positions. These opportunities have also been axed, with the Justice Department canceling its summer program, which typically places 1,800 students across various legal divisions.
“It’s a real loss for both the students and the agencies,” says Lois Casaleggi, associate dean at the University of Chicago Law School. Without these internships, students miss out on critical experience, and the government loses a valuable pipeline of future talent.
The full extent of the hiring freeze’s impact is still unfolding, but one thing is clear—this move has left countless law students out in the cold.
