From what he told me, is the offices in Florida are more likely to hire former state attorneys than the bigger offices in places like New York and DC. They want people who are going to stay in the office, not chill for 5 years and then go be a partner and firm X.Grizz wrote:What you're friends brother probably means is that new hires NOW are from other USAO offices. I should have made this clearer. Hiring nationally is frozen, but you can hire someone who is already a USAO. It's like an office transfer. But in the years immediately preceding the freeze, hiring was skewed toward former big firm associates. Most of the old timers are still ex government.
I'm also skeptical of people choosing the Tampa office to retire. The office over the past few years has run some massive drug prosecutions (Panama Express/drug subs), organized crime (most notably the Gambino family, plus assorted gangs), and mortgage fraud (though that's backed off somewhat). The work is not easy, and the Middle District is busy. If they're retiring here, it's for the weather, not the workload.
What he said is that the office is split between those who do the big stuff and those who average like 2 indictments a year. So while its busy a non negligible minority do the absolute bare minimum to get by. He's not on the hiring committee or anything, but he's been there for a decent amount of time and got picked up relatively quickly out of the state attorney's office.
Not to dispute what you're saying, but just telling what I know on the same subject.