You know how companies list jobs publicly, but they clearly mean to hire/promote internally for that job? Is this a legal requirement or is this company policy?

This seems like a total waste of everyone’s time. The candidates are putting effort and adjusting their resumes to the job. Even if the external candidate is way better, the internal hire will always get the job if they are in the same department because we’re all humans and act like humans to the people we currently work it.