NY Third Department Admissions Forum

[LLT]

I read that in the second department, character affidavits (and employment affidavits?) are only valid 60 days before submission of application. I don’t see any such rule for the third department, but I hope to double check with those who recently applied! Is that restriction applicable to the third department as well? I prepared my employment affidavits quite a while back and I’m now living overseas, so I’m worried...

Thank you so much in advance!

[Neilt001]

I submitted on 11/1, got my confirmation a few days later, and have heard nothing!! Does anyone have any news? It's hard to make plans for the new year when they're keeping us up in the air like this. It's been 7 weeks and haven't got an interview/admission date or anything.

Thanks!

[bwh8813]

I read that in the second department, character affidavits (and employment affidavits?) are only valid 60 days before submission of application. I don’t see any such rule for the third department, but I hope to double check with those who recently applied! Is that restriction applicable to the third department as well? I prepared my employment affidavits quite a while back and I’m now living overseas, so I’m worried...

Thank you so much in advance!

Things could have changed in the two years since I was admitted, but then it was only the 2nd department that had the 60 day rule (which only applied to the character affidavits, not employment). Read the application instructions - if they don't say anything about 60 days then it doesn't apply.

[keepgoing2016]

I submitted on 11/1, got my confirmation a few days later, and have heard nothing!! Does anyone have any news? It's hard to make plans for the new year when they're keeping us up in the air like this. It's been 7 weeks and haven't got an interview/admission date or anything.

Thanks!

I submitted mine on Oct 18 and received confirmation of receipt the following day, and nothing since. Called them this week and I’m apparently still in the queue for review and they can’t give a specific timeframe as to when I’d expect to hear back as they are experiencing very high volumes and have a back log. I will check in again with them in the new year!

[White Dwarf]

Got an email on Thursday saying my interview and admission would be January 17. Submitted my applications mid-November.

[CBlaw]

submitted at the end of November (3rd week I believe). Also had to send it two different things after my initial application. One was something I had remembered the other was something that was requested from me. Got my interview date yesterday and its set for Jan 17.

Does anyone know if there is a limit to how many guest we can bring to attend?

[Neilt001]

I submitted on 11/1, got my confirmation a few days later, and have heard nothing!! Does anyone have any news? It's hard to make plans for the new year when they're keeping us up in the air like this. It's been 7 weeks and haven't got an interview/admission date or anything.

Thanks!

I submitted mine on Oct 18 and received confirmation of receipt the following day, and nothing since. Called them this week and I’m apparently still in the queue for review and they can’t give a specific timeframe as to when I’d expect to hear back as they are experiencing very high volumes and have a back log. I will check in again with them in the new year!

Great thanks! It sounds like there's some variation, like people later than us getting in earlier, and people earlier than us not in yet. Hmm. I have lots of travel plans so it would be really nice to know asap!

[Neilt001]

Got an email on Thursday saying my interview and admission would be January 17. Submitted my applications mid-November.

Hey thanks. Question - is your interview and admission really the same day? Or is it interview on 17th and admission shortly after?
Thanks!

[White Dwarf]

Got an email on Thursday saying my interview and admission would be January 17. Submitted my applications mid-November.

Hey thanks. Question - is your interview and admission really the same day? Or is it interview on 17th and admission shortly after?
Thanks!

Same day. Interview at 9 am, ceremony at 12. I think this is common practice in the 3rd Department if you don't have any red flags in your application.

[PuzzleBubble]

My application was received in December 6. Does anyone have any idea if my interview could be scheduled in January?

[deacon]

According to the Third Department, only the candidates who passed the exam in July will be scheduled to be interviewed and admitted in January. This might be the reason for the people who passed the exam before than July 2018 but haven't heard from the department yet.

PS:I remember seeing this statement somewhere in the forms/website but couldn't find it to refer now

[keepgoing2016]

According to the Third Department, only the candidates who passed the exam in July will be scheduled to be interviewed and admitted in January. This might be the reason for the people who passed the exam before than July 2018 but haven't heard from the department yet.

PS:I remember seeing this statement somewhere in the forms/website but couldn't find it to refer now

Yup that’s right - they just confirmed the same to me today by email. They have reserved dates in January for July 2018 bar takers and as I took the bar in Feb 2017 I am still in the queue for review, 10 weeks on..I guess it’s a waiting game now.

[Neilt001]

According to the Third Department, only the candidates who passed the exam in July will be scheduled to be interviewed and admitted in January. This might be the reason for the people who passed the exam before than July 2018 but haven't heard from the department yet.

PS:I remember seeing this statement somewhere in the forms/website but couldn't find it to refer now

Yup that’s right - they just confirmed the same to me today by email. They have reserved dates in January for July 2018 bar takers and as I took the bar in Feb 2017 I am still in the queue for review, 10 weeks on..I guess it’s a waiting game now.

Oh how annoying!!! So if I wrote in Feb 2018, then those who wrote *after* me (July) get to go first? That's frustrating.

Anyone understand the logic in that?

[White Dwarf]

Oh how annoying!!! So if I wrote in Feb 2018, then those who wrote *after* me (July) get to go first? That's frustrating.

Anyone understand the logic in that?

Thy don't want a huge backlog delaying the new class of law school grads from being admitted. If it was all chronological, it would take a year for new grads to be admitted.

Why don't they just add more admissions ceremonies, you ask? It's NY state government. They're terrible at everything.

[Neilt001]

Oh how annoying!!! So if I wrote in Feb 2018, then those who wrote *after* me (July) get to go first? That's frustrating.

Anyone understand the logic in that?

Thy don't want a huge backlog delaying the new class of law school grads from being admitted. If it was all chronological, it would take a year for new grads to be admitted.

Why don't they just add more admissions ceremonies, you ask? It's NY state government. They're terrible at everything.

Ugh, I think you're right. The Feb sitting is much smaller so I guess we need to wait for the glut of July takers to go through before we do. Ah well... would be nice to receive an update email from em. Maybe I'll call and ask for a ballpark in terms of timing.

Thanks!

[deacon]

I have just received an e-mail saying that "scheduling for the January ceremony is closed. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be scheduled for the earliest available date."

I guess the earliest available date is July 2019 though I have seen on the website that " Successful applicants are sworn in before the Court at large ceremonies in January and June of each year, and at smaller ceremonies held throughout the year."

Maybe there is a small chance we might be sworn in before July.

[Neilt001]

I have just received an e-mail saying that "scheduling for the January ceremony is closed. Once your application has been reviewed, you will be scheduled for the earliest available date."

I guess the earliest available date is July 2019 though I have seen on the website that " Successful applicants are sworn in before the Court at large ceremonies in January and June of each year, and at smaller ceremonies held throughout the year."

Maybe there is a small chance we might be sworn in before July.

Oh it'll definitely be sooner than that. They have ceremonies each month and so if you miss Jan, Feb will be your next shot.

See the term calendar here, which shows both the dates for small monthly ceremonies, and those for the larger ones: http://www.courts.state.ny.us/ad3/2019_ ... _Terms.pdf

I called 3d this week and they said there's a backlog, but they'll get to us soon. Here's hoping!

[MichaelJackson]

I haven't even done MPRE. Just did NYLE in December. At least you're not from Australia where the NYLE was 3am Melbourne time. And I have to fly to Honolulu to take the MPRE. Damn it.

[Neilt001]

I haven't even done MPRE. Just did NYLE in December. At least you're not from Australia where the NYLE was 3am Melbourne time. And I have to fly to Honolulu to take the MPRE. Damn it.

Hey! I'm from melbourne too, but luckily was living in Bermuda at the time of the NYLE so the time zone was just an hour off. My aussie mates had to do the 3am thing too. That's so rough. And flying to hawaii to write the MPRE is rough too! (Again I was in Bda so only 1.5hr flight to NYC to write MPRE).

Best of luck!

[fordham_636]

For all of you out there who submitted your application in November to early January, can you please provide any updates? For those of you still waiting, when did you submit your application? For those of you who have received your interview date, can you please provide details regarding the timeline (i.e., date when you submitted your application and when you received an e-mail indicating that your application had been processed and you were given an interview date)???

I am starting to get a lot of pressure at work to get admitted already, or at least provide some concrete updates or idea of when I'll be admitted. Unfortunately, the third department isn't providing any specific information.

Any help, feedback, or response would be greatly appreciated.

[fordham_636]

For all of you out there who submitted your application in November to early January, can you please provide any updates? For those of you still waiting, when did you submit your application? For those of you who have received your interview date, can you please provide details regarding the timeline (i.e., date when you submitted your application and when you received an e-mail indicating that your application had been processed and you were given an interview date)???

I am starting to get a lot of pressure at work to get admitted already, or at least provide some concrete updates or idea of when I'll be admitted. Unfortunately, the third department isn't providing any specific information.

Any help, feedback, or response would be greatly appreciated.

[DalRock]

Can everyone post their experiences and timeline of their past or current application at New York Third Judicial Department?

1. When did you pass the bar exam?
2. When did you submit your application?
3. Did you have to amend or supplement your application?
4. When were you assigned an interviewer?
5. Thoughts on the interview?
6. Any concerns on the application? criminal history, mental illness, financial obligations, etc.?
7. Anyone not pass the interview stage?
8. When was the swearing in ceremony?

Answer:

1. July 2018
2. December 17, 2018
3. Yes. Last supplemental document was received on January 24, 2019.
4. January 25, 2019
5. ~
6. ~
7. ~
8. March 21, 2019

[hsy]

I submitted my application on the second week of Dec. I was not a July 2018 bar examinee (I took an earlier exam) so I knew I wasn't going to be admitted soon, but I recently got feedback from the Third Dept. that I most likely would not be admitted before May which is later than I expected. Apparently the Third Dept. is experiencing a lot of backlog.

[BrazilianAttyNYC]

I submitted my application in the first week of November 2018, and have not heard anything besides the automatic receipt confirmation email. I took the Feb. 2018 bar, and had to finish my 50-hour Pro Bono Requirement, hence my delay in submitting my application. I've contacted the Third Dept. requesting an update, but did not receive any useful information. I was told my application would be reviewed in due course, and nothing else.

Does anyone know whether it would be better to switch my application to the First Dept.? I know reside in NYC and have not done so yet because I did not want to delay the process even further. Has anyone done this?

Thanks all!

[deacon]

I submitted my application in the first week of November 2018, and have not heard anything besides the automatic receipt confirmation email. I took the Feb. 2018 bar, and had to finish my 50-hour Pro Bono Requirement, hence my delay in submitting my application. I've contacted the Third Dept. requesting an update, but did not receive any useful information. I was told my application would be reviewed in due course, and nothing else.

Does anyone know whether it would be better to switch my application to the First Dept.? I know reside in NYC and have not done so yet because I did not want to delay the process even further. Has anyone done this?

Thanks all!

You need to update your address either way. When you update it, I think they will transfer your application to the First Dept.