Top Law Schools

Hi all! As an incoming law student, I am wondering if you all could share some basic info about what a transition looks like from a Biglaw associate position to an AUSA position some years after leaving law school. I have tried to do some research on this subject, but most articles I have found describe the reverse transition.

Does one apply through the standard channels/utilize connections?

What is the difference in pay between the two roles (obviously the pay cut will be huge, but I'm curious about this as you will be a more experienced attorney as opposed to a new grad that came straight from law school)?

Is it any easier or harder to gain an AUSA position a few years into your career than immediately after law school?

Also -- happy to post this on the employment page if that's more appropriate (I just figured my question was pretty basic and might be better-suited to the law school forum).

Thank you so much in advance!

People do this all the time; it's the most common path for the larger districts as far as I am aware (with ADA > AUSA being second). I think almost no one goes right into being an AUSA so the AUSA > biglaw path is more often biglaw > AUSA > biglaw partner/counsel.

Also, you should be aware that these positions are very competitive. People are often hired because they clerked for a federal judge on the circuit/district where the office is located. Also the pay gap is quite large (over 100K if you are a biglaw midlevel getting market comp and a bonus).