UBE Transfer to DC After Taking NY Bar But Looking at NY and DC Firms Post Clerkship Forum

[fingaztwisting]

Apologies if this has been addressed before, but I have not found a similar post.

I'm a 3L planning to take the NY bar in July 2022, and I will be clerking from fall 2022-fall 2023. I plan to take the NY Bar since my Summer Associate position was at a NY firm, but I am interested in exploring firms in NY and DC while I clerk. I was wondering if it is possible to only be licensed in NY and interview/apply to DC firms while my UBE transfer to DC is pending in late fall? In other words, can I look at firms in both NY and DC while clerking even though I would only be able to practice in NY at the time of application? If so, how long would the UBE transfer to DC take?

Thanks!

[CanadianWolf]

Yes, you can seek employment as an attorney in jurisdictions whether or not currently licensed in that jurisdiction.

[papermateflair]

Most firms will just want to see that you are eligible to waive into the DC bar, and will expect you to have submitted your application shortly after you start working for them. If you've already applied to the DC bar and are just waiting for it to process, then firms will be happy with that, you don't need to already be in the DC bar to apply to DC jobs.

[fingaztwisting]

Awesome, thanks so much!

[12YrsAnAssociate]

It took the DC Bar about 10 months to process my transfer application. Probably could've been done faster. The day it was approved I called over and said "hey this has been pending for 10 months, what's up?" and their response made me think my application had been lost at the bottom of a drawer. I got about 10 emails over the next hour for the various processing steps, including something like "application submitted by applicant."

[mcr3535]

It took the DC Bar about 10 months to process my transfer application. Probably could've been done faster. The day it was approved I called over and said "hey this has been pending for 10 months, what's up?" and their response made me think my application had been lost at the bottom of a drawer. I got about 10 emails over the next hour for the various processing steps, including something like "application submitted by applicant."

Did you call the number posted on the DC Bar's website on the "Contact" page (https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/contact)? I keep trying to call to check on my applications status (I submitted over a year ago now...) and always get sent to voicemail, but the automated message says the phone number isn't accepting voicemails at this time.

[2012Split177]

Second what everyone has said about the DC Bar being ridiculously slow.

The upshot for you is, while you're clerking, the *minute* you get notice that you passed the NY Bar, put in the paperwork with the DC Bar to waive in. If you're lucky, this means you'll only have 1-3 months at the firm after you start when you're not eligible to practice in DC, and your firm will appreciate it. If you wait until you start at the firm, you'll be ineligible for 10+ months.

[12YrsAnAssociate]

It took the DC Bar about 10 months to process my transfer application. Probably could've been done faster. The day it was approved I called over and said "hey this has been pending for 10 months, what's up?" and their response made me think my application had been lost at the bottom of a drawer. I got about 10 emails over the next hour for the various processing steps, including something like "application submitted by applicant."

Did you call the number posted on the DC Bar's website on the "Contact" page (https://admissions.dcappeals.gov/contact)? I keep trying to call to check on my applications status (I submitted over a year ago now...) and always get sent to voicemail, but the automated message says the phone number isn't accepting voicemails at this time.

This was pre-COVID. I think one day I just got fed up and emailed and called every address/number I found.