Waive-in to D.C. Bar? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have accepted an offer to work for a federal agency in D.C. post-clerkship/fellowship. I passed the bar in my home state. I have no goal or plan to make the move from big-fed --> private practice, but who knows what could happen. Reading old threads about the benefits of waiving in to the D.C. bar, I see many people advise against it as a waste of money if you have no job offer that requires you to be licensed their. My thought process is, being licensed in two jurisdictions could be useful down the road, especially given that I will be working in government in D.C....
Is it worth it to waive in? Do biglaw/midlaw D.C. firms view this favorably if trying to make the transition from government after 5-8 years of experience? I would appreciate any thoughts!

[WillitBlend]

Wait to waive in until you are at a firm that will pay for it. Most firms only care that you are eligible to waive in.

[TLSModBot]

FWIW my biglaw firm says 'get barred wherever you want so long as you waive into DC'. So at least one cares, but it's not like not having waived in yet would substantively set you back in terms of hiring.

[Anonymous User]

Fellow federal agency worker here who is considering waiving into DC. From the "maybe one day going private practice because the revolving door is real" angle, I agree with the above who suggest that as long as you're eligible to waive in (have the requisite MBE and MPRE scores and are barred in another jurisdiction), that's usually sufficient.

The more pertinent consideration for me personally is doing pro bono in DC. To the extent that it interests you, I know there is at least one pro bono legal clinic targeted at federal employees that doesn't care where you're barred. But I know for example that there's one pro bono gig in DC in which I really am interested that requires you to be DC barred. Still not sure if it's worth the money, but that might be something you wanna consider as well.

[clarion]

^ Accidentally anon.

[nautilus2000]

There's no reason to do it. Biglaw and mid law firms don't care at all. Maybe some small firms care, but those are unlikely to be firms you're going to want if you leave the federal government. The only real advantage it gives you is, as someone above mentioned, the ability to do DC pro bono. But it's so hard for federal government employees to do pro bono without violating some agency policy that it doesn't really matter. Also, most agencies will pay for only one state's bar dues so you're completely on your own when it comes to the DC dues.

The only real exception is if you're barred in California. Since California doesn't have reciprocity and DC does, it actually makes sense for some people (those who want to practice somewhere other than DC or California at some point) to waive in to get the five years of practice that are necessary to waive in to most of the country.

[Anonymous User]

What work can you do before you are waived in?

[DELG]

I think it's understated how much big firms care that you're already admitted (in any jx). At least on the lateral market there's a preference that you already have your shit together (not to mention already paid the fees).

[ResIpsa305]

Anyone been through this process before?

I submitted my application in person on November 12th. From what I understand, you aren't to order your MBE scores until 4-6 weeks from that point when you receive a formal letter of receipt.

I've yet to receive such a letter. Did I miss something? Or is this just the infamously slow D.C. bar doing it's thing?

[barman143]

Any update on your app? Looking to start the process soon.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone been through this process before?

I submitted my application in person on November 12th. From what I understand, you aren't to order your MBE scores until 4-6 weeks from that point when you receive a formal letter of receipt.

I've yet to receive such a letter. Did I miss something? Or is this just the infamously slow D.C. bar doing it's thing?

I'm a paralegal in DC who has had to keep track of many a lawyer's DC bar waive-in process. Once you get a formal letter of receipt, THEN they say it takes at least 6 months for you to be accepted. Also, calling and checking on the status of your application often is not recommended because they will get annoyed with you.

[hoorahray]

My big law firm in DC requires that we apply for the bar within like 30 days of joining the firm or getting your bar results that let you waive in. They don't care at all if you're already admitted. You just need to be ready to apply when you can. They pay for it. The process is insanely slow. I submitted my application in mid December. I got my "We have your application letter" that lets you send your MBE scores in mid March. I sent my scores, but it'll supposedly be another 6-12 months before I hear anything else from them. I do know that they contacted all my references (literally every single one of them...)

[ResIpsa305]

They contacted every single one of my references, too. Very thorough.

I'm really hoping the wait is more like 8 months and not 12 months. I submitted my application in early November.