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C/O 2021 considering lateraling to NYC - do I have to retake the bar?

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 8:25 am
by Anonymous User
Basically title. My understanding is that experienced attorneys can become licensed in New York without taking the bar if they either:
-have a passing UBE score not more than 3 years old; or
-have practiced for 5 of the last 7 years.

I passed the UBE in a non-NY jurisdiction in July 2021 and have been practicing in that jurisdiction for 3.5 years at this point, so I guess I'm both too experienced and also not experienced enough to be trusted, and would have to re-take the bar exam if I wanted to lateral to NY? Any loopholes or nuance that I'm missing here? 3-5 years seems like a common lateral point, so I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.

Re: C/O 2021 considering lateraling to NYC - do I have to retake the bar?

Posted: Wed May 07, 2025 4:20 pm
by Moneytrees
Anonymous User wrote:
Wed Apr 16, 2025 8:25 am
Basically title. My understanding is that experienced attorneys can become licensed in New York without taking the bar if they either:
-have a passing UBE score not more than 3 years old; or
-have practiced for 5 of the last 7 years.

I passed the UBE in a non-NY jurisdiction in July 2021 and have been practicing in that jurisdiction for 3.5 years at this point, so I guess I'm both too experienced and also not experienced enough to be trusted, and would have to re-take the bar exam if I wanted to lateral to NY? Any loopholes or nuance that I'm missing here? 3-5 years seems like a common lateral point, so I'm sure I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.
Yes, you'll have to retake the bar exam, as well as take the New York Law Exam. It sucks but that's the deal if you lateral before your 5 year mark.