Where to Take the Bar for Federal Government Forum

[moocow54]

So I just received/accepted an offer with a federal agency in DC post-grad (yay!)

Thinking too far ahead probably-- but what bar is most useful/ usual for federal government work? My agency said it doesn't really matter as long as I get barred somewhere, and it seems like most of the attorneys there are barred in MD or VA, but is there any real disadvantage to taking it somewhere else like NY, MA, or CA?

[zot1]

Hell no. Take the easiest bar you can find and that might be DC.

The only advantage to take it somewhere else is in the event you want to leave fed gov't and go back to that state at some point.

Congrats, bro!

[Anonymous User]

^ TITCR.

I worked at a federal agency for 2 years before law school. There were numerous lawyers from local feeder T3-T4 schools that tried taking the CA bar to advance and become attorney advisors (without a license, they were considered paralegals). Many of them failed the bar multiple times, so they eventually gave up and took the bar in Seattle, Kansas, etc. wherever was easiest.

If you see yourself leaving the feds and practicing in another state, take the bar in that state to give yourself an out.

Congrats, enjoy flexi time, "working" at home, and celebrating obscure holidays like Columbus Day.

[Anonymous User]

Take it wherever you see yourself practicing 10 years from now as long as that place has no CLE requirements. Don't take DC though...just do MD instead. Also, CA has no CLE requirement for government attorneys.

[zot1]

Take it wherever you see yourself practicing 10 years from now as long as that place has no CLE requirements. Don't take DC though...just do MD instead. Also, CA has no CLE requirement for government attorneys.

Don't recommend Cali; sure anyone can pass, but also very easy to fail it.

OP, keep in mind that later on, states usually have a baby bar for practicing attorneys. So it's not like you'll be tied to one place if you decide to move on later on.