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I am moving to NYC to practice at a V20 (wife took a job there). I am barred in a non-UbE state. I have not yet been practicing for 5 years, so I can’t yet waive in (I can be an NY lawyer in 2 years, been practicing for 3, so this post just applies to my work at the firm for the next two years)

Do I need to take the Ny bar? I’ll be working at a V20 in litigation. I have found a few ppl at my firm (and peer firms) that seem to be barred in different states, but not a ton. I don’t want to take the bar again....

As a licensed lawyer I’m pretty sure I can practice in all federal courts. Since I’ll be an associate (practicing under partners) is it a huge deal that I won’t be barred in nyc? Thanks, any information is helpful.

Why not just ask the firm how they'd view you waiting two years so you can waive in?

Why not just ask the firm how they'd view you waiting two years so you can waive in?

At my firm, yes. Can't speak to others.

Op here. Good idea iamgeorgebush thanks. I guess if the answer is an obvious “no it’s no big deal” I won’t even bother asking. I though since NYC is such a legal hub ppl barred in different states would be practicing there. ( Ps my offer letter does not say I need to be admitted in NY ( I know some do))

they do not really care at my V11

At my v20 I don’t know of anyone not barred in ny. I think it would create staffing issues because any local case (which is the huge majority) you will need to pro hac in.

Is it a big hassle though to pro hac in? And also does it matter re cases in federal court? ( that is, being admitted in NY vs another state)

It's $200-400 per case to pro hac in, and clients sometimes get pissed off about it even though that's a drop in the bucket. Also, at least in some states (like CA), you technically can't pro hac in if you regularly practice there.

Sounds like the unauthorized practice of law.

bwh8813 wrote:At my firm, yes. Can't speak to others.

Sounds like social anxiety.

hlsperson1111 wrote:It's $200-400 per case to pro hac in, and clients sometimes get pissed off about it even though that's a drop in the bucket. Also, at least in some states (like CA), you technically can't pro hac in if you regularly practice there.

Yes but that CA fact doesn’t matter for this anon because the same would be true even if he were admitted in NY

hdivschool wrote:Sounds like the unauthorized practice of law.

I agree. I don’t think you can maintain an office in New York on a full time basis and not be barred there (or at least in process of taking bar exam).

RaceJudicata wrote:

hdivschool wrote:Sounds like the unauthorized practice of law.

I agree. I don’t think you can maintain an office in New York on a full time basis and not be barred there (or at least in process of taking bar exam).

Agree--at most firms I've worked at, they want you to take the bar at the next sitting, or, if the firm is slammed, at the sitting after that. Two years out would be too long to wait from a professional responsibility standpoint. You only get the asterisk "*Not licensed to practice in New York; supervised by partners of the firm licensed in New York" in your email signature for so long. So yeah, you need to take the bar.

Side note, the UBE is not hard and you don't need to know ANY NY-specific law for it, so it should just be Bar Round 2 for you. It won't be awful. All of the NY-specific law is online in the NYLC/NYLE. Also, you need to do 50 hours of pro bono, so get on that and see if any of your law school volunteer work might count.

You need to take the bar. Law firms care more about the bar for litigators than they do transactional attorneys because litigators need to sign pleadings, go to court and so forth.

lagamemnon wrote:

bwh8813 wrote:At my firm, yes. Can't speak to others.

Sounds like social anxiety.

??

HarrisonBarnes wrote:You need to take the bar. Law firms care more about the bar for litigators than they do transactional attorneys because litigators need to sign pleadings, go to court and so forth.

Do V20s really have 3-5th year associates sign pleadings and argue in court?

For litigation, I think it would be pretty hard to be not barred. Can't really appear in court, can't apply for a secure pass (not required but very convenient), can't e-file, and constantly applying for pro hac vice for every case. I don't necessarily think you'd be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law if you were being supervised by NY licensed attorneys.

As much as it would suck, it's probably best to just sit for the next exam.

What’s the problem with Op pro hac’ing in if s/he needs to appear in court? Op says s/he passed in another state.

(Double post)

Anonymous User wrote:What’s the problem with Op pro hac’ing in if s/he needs to appear in court? Op says s/he passed in another state.

Because not everything in litigation happens with lead time or notice. You might have to cover someone in court one morning or execute a stip. No time to pro hac vice.