Lateraling - C&F Issue Forum

[Anonymous User]

Looking for insight into what I think is a rare situation:

I am currently wrapping up my first year as a corporate associate in NYC. I want to lateral to the SF Bay Area. I have passed both the NY Bar and the CA Bar - but due to an alcohol related C&F issue, I am not yet admitted in either. My hope is that I will be admitted in NY in the last 2-3 months, but it is not guaranteed. CA may not admit me until 9/17, but I am hoping it will be earlier than that.

Ideally, I would like to lateral to one of the better SF corporate firms (e.g. WSGR, Cooley, Fenwick, Orrick, Kirkland etc.). My firm does have an office in the bay area, but its brand name is much stronger in NYC. I was hoping that my work at the NYC office would help me land a spot at one of the aforementioned bay area firms. I mention this because I know that one of my options would be to lateral to my firm's office in the bay area - but would this hurt my chances of later working for one of the stronger SF firms as opposed to lateraling from NYC?

W/R/T to the C&F issue - should I even try to navigate this while this is looming? I could wait it out at my firm until I get admitted, but my preference is to get to SF sooner than later. Would firms need to know the details? That is, could I say I had passed the bar but I filed my C&F app recently and it is still pending (it typically takes 6-8 months to complete anyway)?

Any insight is appreciated

[tyroneslothrop1]

Just don't lie. I'd say something along of lines I've passed the bar and am awaiting admission. If it were me, after the offer has been extended, I would inform the prospective firm that your admission may be delayed due to alcohol related character and fitness issues. I was very upfront with my firm (50 lawyer litigation shop) and they appreciated my candor. My delayed admission was not a problem.

[Anonymous User]

Out of personal curiousity, can either of you go into specifics about the type of alcohol related issue that would delay c&f?

[tyroneslothrop1]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

[Anonymous User]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

Mine was a DUI plead down to DWAI (traffic infraction, not criminal) after my first year of law school. So only about 2 years prior to applying to the bar. Im guessing ill experience some delays. Ugh.

[Anonymous User]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

Mine was a DUI plead down to DWAI (traffic infraction, not criminal) after my first year of law school. So only about 2 years prior to applying to the bar. Im guessing ill experience some delays. Ugh.

OP here - which state? If CA, you will likely be delayed. My guess would be 6 months to a year

[Anonymous User]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

Mine was a DUI plead down to DWAI (traffic infraction, not criminal) after my first year of law school. So only about 2 years prior to applying to the bar. Im guessing ill experience some delays. Ugh.

OP here - which state? If CA, you will likely be delayed. My guess would be 6 months to a year

NY. Starting biglaw in October. Didn't even think about the possibility of a delay and how to explain it to people. (At the time I was too busy worrying about whether ill get admitted at all)

[Anonymous User]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

Mine was a DUI plead down to DWAI (traffic infraction, not criminal) after my first year of law school. So only about 2 years prior to applying to the bar. Im guessing ill experience some delays. Ugh.

OP here - which state? If CA, you will likely be delayed. My guess would be 6 months to a year

NY. Starting biglaw in October. Didn't even think about the possibility of a delay and how to explain it to people. (At the time I was too busy worrying about whether ill get admitted at all)

You will be fine. NY may delay you temporarily, but not enough to make a difference to the firm. At my v5 there are still people who haven't been admitted (passed bar last summer) and don't have any C&F issues.

[Anonymous User]

DUI or more than one drunk in public etc. These issues may delay your admission. If you got a single minor in possession in college and have no other incidents, your application will probably not even be flagged for further review. The more recent, the more of a problem you will have.

Mine was a DUI plead down to DWAI (traffic infraction, not criminal) after my first year of law school. So only about 2 years prior to applying to the bar. Im guessing ill experience some delays. Ugh.

OP here - which state? If CA, you will likely be delayed. My guess would be 6 months to a year

NY. Starting biglaw in October. Didn't even think about the possibility of a delay and how to explain it to people. (At the time I was too busy worrying about whether ill get admitted at all)

You will be fine. NY may delay you temporarily, but not enough to make a difference to the firm. At my v5 there are still people who haven't been admitted (passed bar last summer) and don't have any C&F issues.

That is relieving, thank you.

[JenDarby]

I have a couple NYC corporate biglaw friends who weren't admitted until their second year because they just didn't submit applications, and plenty others who were late in their stub/first year. I wouldn't worry about your C&F delay being too problematic (if at all) at your current firm.