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I'm a 3L heading to a consulting firm next fall. A law license isn't required for the job and makes no difference in career advancement. I'm wondering if I should take the bar anyway just in case but I am not sure about the potential payoff. One possible scenario is wanting to leave consulting after several years. Are there opportunities for practice 3-5+ years out of law school for someone who has no legal experience? Is there any other reason to take the bar?

You'll never work as a lawyer. But, take the bar anyways. It'll be a worthwhile personal achievement, and being a non-practicing lawyer is more impressive than being a J.D. who never qualified as a lawyer.

There is no reason to do it. To maintain your license you will have to do continuing education, pay bar dues, etc. If you decide you want to practice later, just take the bar then.

anattorney wrote:There is no reason to do it. To maintain your license you will have to do continuing education, pay bar dues, etc. If you decide you want to practice later, just take the bar then.

+1, unless you're trying to impress Renzo

XxSpyKEx wrote:

anattorney wrote:There is no reason to do it. To maintain your license you will have to do continuing education, pay bar dues, etc. If you decide you want to practice later, just take the bar then.

+1, unless you're trying to impress Renzo

All I'm saying is you've invested 3 years, why not see it through? The bar exam isn't that bad, you only have to do it once, and compared to all the effort/expense you've already put in, it's pretty minor. Then you can tell people you are a lawyer, not a law school graduate.

Renzo wrote:

XxSpyKEx wrote:

anattorney wrote:There is no reason to do it. To maintain your license you will have to do continuing education, pay bar dues, etc. If you decide you want to practice later, just take the bar then.

+1, unless you're trying to impress Renzo

All I'm saying is you've invested 3 years, why not see it through? The bar exam isn't that bad, you only have to do it once, and compared to all the effort/expense you've already put in, it's pretty minor. Then you can tell people you are a lawyer, not a law school graduate.

Renzo is not impressed unless you are a lawyer.

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L heading to a consulting firm next fall. A law license isn't required for the job and makes no difference in career advancement. I'm wondering if I should take the bar anyway just in case but I am not sure about the potential payoff. One possible scenario is wanting to leave consulting after several years. Are there opportunities for practice 3-5+ years out of law school for someone who has no legal experience? Is there any other reason to take the bar?

It is possible to move from consulting into a legal job (though probably not at the beginning of your career), or you could transition to a small company where legal work is a side requirement for your job. The quick answer is, if you can get the license, why wouldn't you, just in case?

OP here
Thanks for all replies!
The reason I'm reluctant is the cost (time+money). I'll have to spend a few grands on prep and the exam and at least 6 weeks to study for it that I can alternatively spend travelling in Asia. Also I am not sure which state to take because I wouldn't want to live an work in NYC that seems to be the default. If I were to take the bar what would be the alternative to NYS?

massachusetts. no CLE, relatively cheap, bar exam is easy. reciprocity.

Anonymous User wrote:I'll have to spend a few grands on prep and the exam and at least 6 weeks to study for it

Anonymous User wrote:alternatively . . . travelling in Asia.

Seems like an easy call to me.

prezidentv8 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'll have to spend a few grands on prep and the exam and at least 6 weeks to study for it

Anonymous User wrote:alternatively . . . travelling in Asia.

Seems like an easy call to me.

I'll second this. You can always do the bar at a layer date (though, it'll probably suck more)

prezidentv8 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'll have to spend a few grands on prep and the exam and at least 6 weeks to study for it

Anonymous User wrote:alternatively . . . travelling in Asia.

Seems like an easy call to me.

Yes. No question. When else are you going to be able to take six weeks off to go travel? If you need/want to get licensed later for whatever reason, you can still do it. Plus, if you do it for a job later they would probably pay for your preparation.