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I'm a 3L deciding between two full-time offers for after graduation. One offer letter says it's contingent on me "becoming a member of the bar" in the state where the firm is located, but it says nothing about timing. The other offer letter says nothing about the bar.

I'm not concerned about passing the bar, but I also want to know I for sure have a job. Does anyone know of people with offers contingent on bar passage who failed? Did the firm let them retake and keep their job?

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L deciding between two full-time offers for after graduation. One offer letter says it's contingent on me "becoming a member of the bar" in the state where the firm is located, but it says nothing about timing. The other offer letter says nothing about the bar.

I'm not concerned about passing the bar, but I also want to know I for sure have a job. Does anyone know of people with offers contingent on bar passage who failed? Did the firm let them retake and keep their job?

Many, but not all, large firms will give you a second chance to pass the bar if you fail. None that I know of give you a third. All jobs as attorneys are contingent on passing the bar. Unless this is really the coin-toss tie-breaker you have chosen to use between two firms that are otherwise indistinguishable to you, I would pick the one that is the better fit/has the practice areas you are more interested in.

Boltsfan wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I'm a 3L deciding between two full-time offers for after graduation. One offer letter says it's contingent on me "becoming a member of the bar" in the state where the firm is located, but it says nothing about timing. The other offer letter says nothing about the bar.

I'm not concerned about passing the bar, but I also want to know I for sure have a job. Does anyone know of people with offers contingent on bar passage who failed? Did the firm let them retake and keep their job?

Many, but not all, large firms will give you a second chance to pass the bar if you fail. None that I know of give you a third. All jobs as attorneys are contingent on passing the bar. Unless this is really the coin-toss tie-breaker you have chosen to use between two firms that are otherwise indistinguishable to you, I would pick the one that is the better fit/has the practice areas you are more interested in.

Yes, this language is totally meaningless.

Our offer letters have the same language, but firm policy (same as everywhere else for the most part) is to give 2 tries. I have heard of multiple people getting a third try and being kept as a staff attorney--but this is obviously an undesirable demotion (title & pay) and far from guaranteed and these people were all laterals presumably barred somewhere else already.

Just do Barbri or whatever and complete the whole program and pass rates are something like 99%. I've taken multiple state bars (but not the new uniform one), be prepared, be confident, and type fast when applicable.

Everyone in the thread has talked about large firms -- and their information is correct. On the other hand, most small firms will not keep you around if you don't pass the bar.

OP here: thanks everyone! These are biglaw offers, but thanks racejudicata for adding another perspective in case anyone lurking is in that boat.