What to do after the bar exam? Not looking good. Forum

[Anonymous User]

I graduated from a lower Tier 1 this year in the top half of my class(yea, i know that is not great). I came a long way from my disastrous 1L year but, it still not enough to secure me a job post graduation. Now Im studying for the bar exam and have no way to live after my lease is up in August. I have no where to go back to(my parents already have someone sleeping on the couch and pretty much said I can sleep on the floor if I get a bs retail job or work at McDonalds). My girlfriend's family says I can live with them but I think they just want to guilt me into marrying her based on the erroneous belief that I will someday have good future income. So basically to me it seems like I have 3 choices.

1. Homeless
2. Sleep on Floor
3. Live with girlfriends's family which would be prob more unbearable then the floor.

Also, I am under the impression that any job that I find would not start until I pass the bar etc. So, what the hell can I do until then? Has anything similar ever happened to anyone you know? Do I just head over to the Starbucks and send out resumes etc. then sleep in the shelter?

[TTH]

Try to find some delicious, delicious doc review that doesn't require you to be barred? I don't think there's much of that anymore, but it's the first thing I can think of.

[blsingindisguise]

Get in touch with some legal temp agencies early and see if you can get frank answers about whether they'll be able to place someone like you and how long it will take. Don't wait until bar results -- do this now. They may even have JD-preferred stuff that you can start immediately after the exam. You'll beat the rush by doing this now.

[gwuorbust]

also start knocking on solo's doors. many are will probably let you do everything you would do as a lawyer without the degree. you just can't sign stuff until you are barred. once you are getting paid and are "on your feet," try to get a jerb somewhere else.

also, moving in with the gf's parents might help you get back on your feet faster.

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the advice. I may have to suck it up and stay at my girlfriend's parent's place. I may start to hate my family if I'm forced to live there under those conditions. Plus, her parent's house is in a bigger market where I already have some connections with firms that I have clerked with. They may be able to talk to some of their colleague's for me.

I am going to look into some of these legal headhunters. It sucks, I feel like such a loser at this point. I don't know how other people are able to put on such a brave face when they don't have a job. Maybe b/c their circumstances aren't as bad as mine? Idk, but thanks for the advice. It is very appreciated.

[Anonymous User]

Meh, don't be so hard on yourself. Do you know just how many of us don't have jobs lined up for after the bar?

Temp agencies is a good idea. Once you get barred, you can slap that on your resume and begin to look all over again. Something will turn up.

Like I said, there are A LOT of us in the same boat. You're not alone.