Taking bar exam for a different jurisdiction shortly after starting work in one jurisdiction? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Currently in NY, but considering taking the CA bar sometime in the near future in case my SO has to move there for work. I know that CA offers a shortened, essay-only exam for lawyers from other jurisdictions with experience of 4 years or more, but the move might happen before I've practiced for 4 years, which is why I'm considering maybe taking the February exam or July 2023.

What concerns me though, is that it might be frowned upon by my firm/partners at my office because they might suspect that I'm just trying to bounce right after I started work there.

Best case scenario for me is that my SO and I just stay in NY, and if we have to move, I would like to just transfer to the CA office but stay within my current firm if that's feasible.

Am I just worrying about nothing, or is this a legitimate concern?

[Anonymous User]

Currently in NY, but considering taking the CA bar sometime in the near future in case my SO has to move there for work. I know that CA offers a shortened, essay-only exam for lawyers from other jurisdictions with experience of 4 years or more, but the move might happen before I've practiced for 4 years, which is why I'm considering maybe taking the February exam or July 2023.

What concerns me though, is that it might be frowned upon by my firm/partners at my office because they might suspect that I'm just trying to bounce right after I started work there.

Best case scenario for me is that my SO and I just stay in NY, and if we have to move, I would like to just transfer to the CA office but stay within my current firm if that's feasible.

Am I just worrying about nothing, or is this a legitimate concern?

A few questions:
1) when did you start working?
2) does your firm have a big office in CA?
3) would you need to take significant time (beyond just vacation) to study for the bar, or just a day or two to take it?

I can't imagine a national biglaw firm taking issue with trying for the bar in another jurisdiction where they have an office, especially if it doesn't interrupt your ability to do work for them. I could see them saying no if you wanted extra time, though.

But more importantly, if you're at a firm with a big office in CA, then I would just wait until the decision becomes more imminent. Best case is your firm is willing to move you out to CA and gives you time to study; worst case is they say no, and you'd be looking for a job anyway. My wife took a few months off to study for the bar when she switched major markets, and her new firm was fine with that.

The only reason I would worry about what it says to the partners is if we enter a recession and firms start laying people off. Until then (and unlike in other lines of work), if you're doing good work, firms want to hold onto you for as long as they can even if they know they're going to lose you soon.

[Anonymous User]

Currently in NY, but considering taking the CA bar sometime in the near future in case my SO has to move there for work. I know that CA offers a shortened, essay-only exam for lawyers from other jurisdictions with experience of 4 years or more, but the move might happen before I've practiced for 4 years, which is why I'm considering maybe taking the February exam or July 2023.

What concerns me though, is that it might be frowned upon by my firm/partners at my office because they might suspect that I'm just trying to bounce right after I started work there.

Best case scenario for me is that my SO and I just stay in NY, and if we have to move, I would like to just transfer to the CA office but stay within my current firm if that's feasible.

Am I just worrying about nothing, or is this a legitimate concern?

A few questions:
1) when did you start working?
2) does your firm have a big office in CA?
3) would you need to take significant time (beyond just vacation) to study for the bar, or just a day or two to take it?

I can't imagine a national biglaw firm taking issue with trying for the bar in another jurisdiction where they have an office, especially if it doesn't interrupt your ability to do work for them. I could see them saying no if you wanted extra time, though.

But more importantly, if you're at a firm with a big office in CA, then I would just wait until the decision becomes more imminent. Best case is your firm is willing to move you out to CA and gives you time to study; worst case is they say no, and you'd be looking for a job anyway. My wife took a few months off to study for the bar when she switched major markets, and her new firm was fine with that.

The only reason I would worry about what it says to the partners is if we enter a recession and firms start laying people off. Until then (and unlike in other lines of work), if you're doing good work, firms want to hold onto you for as long as they can even if they know they're going to lose you soon.

(1) I'm in my first year.
(2) I think the firm has a decent presence in CA although not as big as the NY office.
(3) I'm not entirely sure but maybe?

I hadn't considered the best-case scenario that you gave me, but that does sound ideal. I'll probably wait and see what happens, especially since the move likely won't happen within the next year or so anyway.

When you say your wife's new firm was fine with her taking a few months off to study, do you mean (1) she got her job before starting bar prep, and the firm was okay with her starting work a few months later; or (2) she took a few months for bar prep, passed the bar, got in contact with the firm, and the firm was fine with the few months' hiatus? I'm hoping it's (1) because that sounds like a much lower stress environment for bar prep!

[Anonymous User]

Currently in NY, but considering taking the CA bar sometime in the near future in case my SO has to move there for work. I know that CA offers a shortened, essay-only exam for lawyers from other jurisdictions with experience of 4 years or more, but the move might happen before I've practiced for 4 years, which is why I'm considering maybe taking the February exam or July 2023.

What concerns me though, is that it might be frowned upon by my firm/partners at my office because they might suspect that I'm just trying to bounce right after I started work there.

Best case scenario for me is that my SO and I just stay in NY, and if we have to move, I would like to just transfer to the CA office but stay within my current firm if that's feasible.

Am I just worrying about nothing, or is this a legitimate concern?

A few questions:
1) when did you start working?
2) does your firm have a big office in CA?
3) would you need to take significant time (beyond just vacation) to study for the bar, or just a day or two to take it?

I can't imagine a national biglaw firm taking issue with trying for the bar in another jurisdiction where they have an office, especially if it doesn't interrupt your ability to do work for them. I could see them saying no if you wanted extra time, though.

But more importantly, if you're at a firm with a big office in CA, then I would just wait until the decision becomes more imminent. Best case is your firm is willing to move you out to CA and gives you time to study; worst case is they say no, and you'd be looking for a job anyway. My wife took a few months off to study for the bar when she switched major markets, and her new firm was fine with that.

The only reason I would worry about what it says to the partners is if we enter a recession and firms start laying people off. Until then (and unlike in other lines of work), if you're doing good work, firms want to hold onto you for as long as they can even if they know they're going to lose you soon.

(1) I'm in my first year.
(2) I think the firm has a decent presence in CA although not as big as the NY office.
(3) I'm not entirely sure but maybe?

I hadn't considered the best-case scenario that you gave me, but that does sound ideal. I'll probably wait and see what happens, especially since the move likely won't happen within the next year or so anyway.

When you say your wife's new firm was fine with her taking a few months off to study, do you mean (1) she got her job before starting bar prep, and the firm was okay with her starting work a few months later; or (2) she took a few months for bar prep, passed the bar, got in contact with the firm, and the firm was fine with the few months' hiatus? I'm hoping it's (1) because that sounds like a much lower stress environment for bar prep!

It was (2), but I know some people who have done (1). Which goes to say - taking a few months off entirely to prep for taking the bar before starting your job hunt is doable (at least for some), but I agree (1) would be ideal. Give it a few months and you'll start getting recruiter emails (if you haven't already) for jobs all across the country, including those that are willing to take transplants. Any firm willing to take a transplant is, by definition, okay with you having to take the local bar.