Skadden bar passage policy Forum

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know it? Will they pull my offer if I fail the bar? Maybe just one redo? I'm too scared to ask.
I could do it with one mulligan.

[Anonymous User]

At my v10, failure means you are automatically on the way out, but offer isn't rescinded. I'd expect it to be the same for skadden.

[Anonymous User]

From what I gather from my firm (NYC V10) and other similar firms, your offer is still good if you fail once though it is very large blemish to overcome in terms of progression within the firm. Fail twice and you are gone.

[Anonymous User]

Oh wow, so how does it work if you don't pass the first time? Just curious (not OP). Do they give you a month to study in January or something?

[Anonymous User]

Oh wow, so how does it work if you don't pass the first time? Just curious (not OP). Do they give you a month to study in January or something?

At least here you are expected to study while you continue to do full time work. Taking time off would just exacerbate the negative career effects I imagine.

[Anonymous User]

You get canned if you fail twice. I work for Skadden and know someone who failed twice...

[Anonymous User]

Failing once will suck for you personally, but can absolutely be overcome professionally. It happens, some people might judge you, but you won't automatically be canned and will have ample time for redemption, even at your first employer (Skadden).

[Anonymous User]

I worked for a V10 and failed the bar exam once. Let me assure you that no one will judge you more harshly than yourself. The firm will be really nice about it and it won't affect your professional standing. They are more likely to believe that the bar exam was an aberration than that their own selection system is flawed (and they hired a bad lawyer.)

I don't know what happens if you fail a second time though.

[Anonymous User]

I know someone at Crowell & Moring who failed the bar twice. The offer was not rescinded and the person is doing fine there several years later.

[Anonymous User]

Incoming NY associate here -- I've been told both from associates and from staff that there are no official consequences for failing. Associates also said that even on an unofficial level, no one cares if you didn't pass. You just take it again. I don't know what these other posters are on about.

Honestly the fact that you're so worried about it is probably proof enough that you've been working hard at it and will pass. Just don't worry too much.

[Anonymous User]

I'm an incoming associate in NY Skadden. You get to re-take once. No one cares, honestly. Just re-take the February, ace, and move on with your career. I disagree with "automatically canned after 2x."

[Anonymous User]

Another NYC firm, our policy says 1 retake only. The implication is that your employment is in jeopardy after second fail. I'm sure it's not an auto can but if your review is not outstanding it probably will lead to it.

[Anonymous User]

My V50 NY firm has a clearly stated policy of dismissal after two failures. Other than that, noone here seems to even care about the fact that we all just passed the bar - no mention of it at all and I imagine the same is true for those that failed. The only person that reached out to me was our professional development director, whose job it is to keep track of these things. I highly doubt she is now running around to every partner and associate with news of our success or failure. Thus, I cannot imagine any professional implications for your first failure. Fail a second time though and you're gone.

[Pokemon]

One time is ok cause that type of thing happens and can happen to anyone. Twice, then you raise eyebrows. The thing that can suck most is that everyone of the attorneys assumed you passed. I was congratulated without even being asked about it. Fortunately, I passed.

[BVest]

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