Take two bar exams in anticipation of lateraling? Crazy? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have found surprisingly little info on this topic and was hoping some lawyers out there could help:

I am a graduating 3L going to work at a well regarded firm in NY. I am planning on making a lateral move to a mid-sized city relatively soon after starting, perhaps as short as 1 year. The big question: Does it make sense to take the NY bar and the bar for the state I am planning on lateraling to this July? I understand the basic logistics as far as the timing (the state's timing would allow this, think NY+CT/MA/NJ), but I am unclear about how much hassle involved with lateraling I'd be avoiding by doing this. Is it worth it? Would the new firm (think well regarded biglaw in the city, transactional associate) recruit me before I am admitted in their state? How does the timing work? (Get an offer, but have to wait until admission to start work? Get an offer, start work, then given time off to take the bar? Is time off paid?)

It seems like this must come up a ton so I assume biglaw has a pretty standard way of dealing with lateral associates who are not admitted. If it is a seamless process, I'll wait until later to take the second bar. If it would save a lot of hassle, I'm willing to suck it up and study for two this summer. Thoughts from those with experience/firsthand knowledge?

[09042014]

I'd do them both now. Having to do it later sucks. It's only a little bit hard doing two bars at once since the overlap in content is pretty high.

[Old Gregg]

I'd do them both now. Having to do it later sucks. It's only a little bit hard doing two bars at once since the overlap in content is pretty high.

And hard to study for another state's bar while working in big law (assuming your firm doesn't give you sufficient, if any, time off to study).