The Trump administration relied on large law firms to fill its government lawyer ranks in key agencies. And many of those attorneys have likely remained in government during the Biden administration, according to analysis of lateral movement data between key government agencies and Big Law.

While Trump political appointees were required to leave government posts as the Biden administration brought in its own people—and many former Trump lawyers have found it hard to find a job back in private practice—the majority of Trump-era lawyers remaining in government are rank-and-file attorneys, entering public service to serve their country and gain valuable government experience, experts say.