U.S. Attorneys' File Ranks Of Prosecutor With Unpaid Jobs

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. attorneys' offices around the U.S. are filling the ranks of prosecutor positions with unpaid jobs.

For the last six years, unpaid positions taken by candidates eager to gain valuable work experience and perform a public service.

But critics say the unpaid jobs threaten racial diversity in federal prosecutors' offices and set a bad precedent for labor standards.

And an association made up of assistant U.S. attorneys goes a step further, saying the unpaid positions violate the law.

The Department of Justice did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the jobs.

Supporters point to the short duration of the unpaid jobs — most appear to be for only a year — and the experience they provide.

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