Biglaw start dates and bar exam Forum

[Anonymous User]

Specifying biglaw due to the general two-chances policy:

If one were to fail the bar exam, would it have been better to start at one's firm prior to finding out that one has failed or is it better to find out about the failure prior to starting at the firm.
I.e., would a firm with a two-time policy defer one's start date if one fails prior to starting and tell the incoming associate to begin after taking the bar in February (and thus less people may find out about it; on the other hand, would one's comp be affected if deferred; etc.).

[Anonymous User]

It probably will just come down to firm policy. Most firms let people work until before February retake, but my old firm gave you a second try, but you were sent home with I think just a second stipend for the February bar. Unfortunately for those people they got the results after associate orientation so it was probably embarrassing cause everyone knew they failed and had to go home. So I am sure they would have preferred for results to come out before starting.

[Anonymous User]

It probably will just come down to firm policy. Most firms let people work until before February retake, but my old firm gave you a second try, but you were sent home with I think just a second stipend for the February bar. Unfortunately for those people they got the results after associate orientation so it was probably embarrassing cause everyone knew they failed and had to go home. So I am sure they would have preferred for results to come out before starting.

Assuming the results come out in October—your firm sent those who failed home as soon as the results came out? If not, wouldn’t the fact that they leave in December or January make it obvious that they failed?

[Anonymous User]

It probably will just come down to firm policy. Most firms let people work until before February retake, but my old firm gave you a second try, but you were sent home with I think just a second stipend for the February bar. Unfortunately for those people they got the results after associate orientation so it was probably embarrassing cause everyone knew they failed and had to go home. So I am sure they would have preferred for results to come out before starting.

Assuming the results come out in October—your firm sent those who failed home as soon as the results came out? If not, wouldn’t the fact that they leave in December or January make it obvious that they failed?

Yes, they sent them home immediately.

[Anonymous User]

You probably passed fwiw. I absolutely thought I failed.