To take or Not to take the Bar Exam Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello TLSers,

I just got offered a non-law position with a local county doing policy related stuff. I am very interested in the position and will accept it. The thing is I was unemployed up to this point, and signed up to take a bar exam in the same state. The hiring committee made it obvious that I should not spend time studying for the bar once I start working since it will be very busy the first couple months of work.

I am hoping someone here who took a non-legal job can share their experiences, whether to take the bar exam and/or how to handle membership requirements (e.g. fees, pro bono hours(?))

Thank you!

[Anonymous User]

I'm in a similar position right now. Graduating in about a week, and am starting a full-time job wholly unrelated to being a lawyer in early June. I had already signed up for and paid for the bar, so I'm still going to take it this summer, but I know I won't have much time to actually study for it. But, it'd still be ideal to pass it so that I could at least say I did so.

So, I didn't sign up for any of the bar prep classes but am going to buy some books on Craigslist and try to study when I can at nights after work and on weekends. If I pass, great. If I don't, it really doesn't matter.

I'd recommend you do a similar strategy. If you don't take the bar now, you probably never will, and you might as well culminate the past 3 horrible years with a shot at passing the bar. Especially since it seems that you already paid for it.

[Anonymous User]

I might be in the same position too. I know working and studying for the bar would be hard but my school's bar pass rate is insane. If you aren't a terrible test taker and your bar isn't insanely hard - try it?

[worldtraveler]

I'm in the legal field but what I do doesn't require bar passage as I don't have clients.

I took the bar just because I thought I should in case I ever need it. I failed.

Just don't do it. It was a terrible idea. Studying for the bar sucks, and actually sitting and taking the exam for 2 or 3 days also sucks. It's expensive and it was a complete waste of my time.

If you don't need it, go enjoy your life, save some money, and focus on doing a great job at the job you have.