Taking another bar exam Forum

[Anonymous User]

If you’re working biglaw and want to change offices of your firm to another state that would require another bar exam, how do you have time to study? And what does the process look like - do they give you a couple weeks off, is it paid time off, are you better off lateraling to negotiate this, etc?

Seems daunting but maybe just bc I hated studying for the bar the first time

Also pretty junior so can’t waive in for multiple years

[Anonymous User]

Depending on seniority, your relationship with the partners, etc, you can get time off to study. I have friends who have done exactly this and did an intrafirm move and were given a few weeks off to study and had their bar prep covered.

I took the latter route and lateraled to a different firm in a different jx and got basically no time off. I had to study in the evening and on weekends and it was a brutal and miserable period.

You should take a second to assess how the firm/partners will view you wanting to move offices. Some might not take it kindly, so maybe reach out to some other associates who have made a similar move for guidance. Depending on what practice group you're in, it's a fairly hot lateral market, so that works in your favor, but there are always inherent risks in lateraling.

[Anonymous User]

On another note - do corporate attorneys necessarily need to get barred in the new state right away. I've seen a few partners (mainly who have gone from NY to CA) who are not barred in the latter state and have a disclosure on emails. Not sure what the deal is there

[Anonymous User]

I just studied in the mornings and evenings. But yeah, might be worth checking if your firm will cover it (as they should if they're placing you there). Also, I don't think you need to be barred immediately or even anytime soon. I know people who moved from NY to CA and two years later still aren't barred there.

[Anonymous User]

I know someone who took a few weeks off but then didn't make hours as a result and didn't make bonus.

[Anonymous User]

I just studied in the mornings and evenings. But yeah, might be worth checking if your firm will cover it (as they should if they're placing you there). Also, I don't think you need to be barred immediately or even anytime soon. I know people who moved from NY to CA and two years later still aren't barred there.

That’s interesting - more so true in corp? And do you think firms would be amenable to me moving offices now without taking the bar if I could waive in after another ~2 years