Top Law Schools

I've heard Maryland is easier, and it avoids the silly suit on test day rule.

Virginia. Because VA>>>>>MD.

Serious answer: it doesn't matter. Just make sure you score high enough on the MBE to waive in. Employers won't care where you're licensed other than DC, so should be take the bar for the state where you think you might need or want to practice after you leave DC.

No one cares so long as you can waive into DC.

But MD doesn't have CLE requirements, so that's pretty huge.

.

VA = No reciprocity and very restrictive waive-in rule. Also VA has a harder bar exam, harder C&F, and a CLE requirement. But VA does have EDVA

MD = No MPRE and a later bar exam registration deadline. And better waive-in rules and no CLE. But a smaller overall legal market.

If you're dead-set on taking one of these states, take VA and then waive into MD down the road.

If your firm has a major office in either Maryland or Virginia (unlikely) then consider taking the bar in that state.

(anonymous because this happened to me)

But, if you really have no reason to choose one or the other, Maryland includes your MBE score on the results letter, and Virginia doesn't, so you have to pay $40 to VA to find out if you scored high enough to waive into DC (they won't tell you your score, they just say yes/no).

Anonymous User wrote:If your firm has a major office in either Maryland or Virginia (unlikely) then consider taking the bar in that state.

(anonymous because this happened to me)

But, if you really have no reason to choose one or the other, Maryland includes your MBE score on the results letter, and Virginia doesn't, so you have to pay $40 to VA to find out if you scored high enough to waive into DC (they won't tell you your score, they just say yes/no).

The first part of this is credited. A number of major firms have random NOVA offices in addition to their DC offices (Akerman, Pillsbury, Cooley, etc.). Fewer have Bethesda (Ballard Spahr does, Holland and Knight used to) or Baltimore (DLA, Hogan and Venable) offices.

Should I still take the MPRE even if I'm taking Maryland bar?

jd20132013 wrote:Should I still take the MPRE even if I'm taking Maryland bar?

If you're going to waive into DC (which you probably should), I believe DC requires the MPRE. Otherwise, most states require the MPRE be taken in the last x years, which may not be worth it. For example, I think NY has a five or seven year waive-in period, which would exceed the three year period the MPRE score is valid.

LawIdiot86 wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:If your firm has a major office in either Maryland or Virginia (unlikely) then consider taking the bar in that state.

(anonymous because this happened to me)

But, if you really have no reason to choose one or the other, Maryland includes your MBE score on the results letter, and Virginia doesn't, so you have to pay $40 to VA to find out if you scored high enough to waive into DC (they won't tell you your score, they just say yes/no).

The first part of this is credited. A number of major firms have random NOVA offices in addition to their DC offices (Akerman, Pillsbury, Cooley, etc.). Fewer have Bethesda (Ballard Spahr does, Holland and Knight used to) or Baltimore (DLA, Hogan and Venable) offices.

I'm not sure how relevant this is for choosing which state to take, but there's a big difference between random NoVA offices and Baltimore offices; the former are (at least in my experience) just satellites of the DC offices taking advantage of cheap rent, while the latter are generally entirely independent (insofar as any office is "independent" within a given firm hierarchy).

LawIdiot86 wrote:

jd20132013 wrote:Should I still take the MPRE even if I'm taking Maryland bar?

If you're going to waive into DC (which you probably should), I believe DC requires the MPRE. Otherwise, most states require the MPRE be taken in the last x years, which may not be worth it. For example, I think NY has a five or seven year waive-in period, which would exceed the three year period the MPRE score is valid.

Thanks. I'm waiving into DC so will take MPRE

You should probably just take NY. Biggest legal market if you ever find yourself desperate for work. Lots of reciprocity. Many firms/clients like to see the NY bar.

I'm taking NY and waiving into DC to work at a DC firm.

Take whatever bar you think you are most likely to use in the next five years. That's probably not VA or MD. If you are from boston take MA. If you are from Mn take Mn.

If you have to choose va or md then choose md. It's significantly easier than VA and has no CLE.

If you don't have a job you might want to just take DC. The waive in process takes 9-12 months. That way you are admitted faster.

Desert Fox wrote:Take whatever bar you think you are most likely to use in the next five years. That's probably not VA or MD. If you are from boston take MA. If you are from Mn take Mn.

This. I know people working in DC who took NY. I know people in DC who took CA. Do whatever is best for your future. If you're torn between two states, take the one that's harder to waive into.