If I fail the bar exam again Forum

[TxBarTaker09]

So I've pretty much prepared for being a lawyer my whole life. I took law-related majors, I've worked in several law firms. I had a job as a litigation attorney going into my first bar exam at the firm I always wanted to work in at the city I always wanted to live in. And then I failed the bar. The first time my firm was actually pretty cool about it, gave my my job back after I took the second bar, until I found out I failed again. This time I lost my job.

So I took the bar exam a third time, and we're now a little over two weeks away from getting the results for the bar again. Except this time I'm broke. I've spent any extra money I had paying the bar exam fees and paying for bar courses (BarBri twice, then Kaplan once). I can't afford to take the bar exam anymore, so I've decided if I fail, I'm not taking it again. At least not for a long while.

So, I need another career path. Like I said, I've only ever wanted to be a lawyer. My mother owns a real estate firm back in my hometown, although I have no interest in selling real estate, it would be a job I could get. I don't really have any other good ideas or interests, so I'm looking for anyone who has good ideas for JD-advantage jobs?

Thanks!

And for those who also took the Texas Bar, good luck to you.

[drs36]

Any oil and gas interest? Title abstractors, at least in Pennsyvlania, do not require bar passage and are largely J.D. preferred. Not sure whether you're interested in that kind of work, though. I have a friend who is in a similar boat, does this kind of work and enjoys it. Pay is decent.

[TxBarTaker09]

I've never thought about that, although I don't really have any experience in the oil and gas field. Thanks for the suggestion though! I'm pretty much an open book on this, I just need to have a direction to go to if I fail, regardless of what that is. I'll look into that down here.

[drs36]

Best of luck to you. Hoping you pass, my friend.

[OklahomasOK]

Lots of jobs in Oklahoma for landmen. JD preferred. Don't really need to have passed the bar, I don't think.

[rdawkins28]

Just out of curiosity, how did you prepare for the Texas bar?

[TxBarTaker09]

The first time was my worst preparation, I had to move during the first couple of weeks of bar study, I was working part time, and some other things that I won't get into, so I just didn't finish the course (I was taking BarBri at that point.)

After I failed, I took BarBri again because they offered it to me again. This time I didn't work and studied full time. I did well on all portions except the MBE.

I decided that the MBE prep with BarBri just was not working for me, so I decided to take the Kaplan prep course. I was mainly focused on MBE, as this was consistently my worst testing area. I enjoyed Kaplan's MBE prep.

So, hopefully that worked out.

[rdawkins28]

Looks like you have given it a good try. I hope you passed!

[cocoapuffs1]

I failed with BarBri the first time too - their MBE prep didn't seem to work for me either. This time I went with Kaplan and passed. I didn't see much of a difference between the two re: essays, but if MBE was where you were weak, I think it was a good call on Kaplan. Here's hoping you got it this time.

[silenttimer]

I had paying the bar exam fees and paying for bar courses (BarBri twice, then Kaplan once).

I thought that BarBri will let you take the course again free if you fail the first time?

[n900mixalot]

If you don't pass, the sun will still rise, and will still set. Your mom will still love you, the world will still turn, and you will still have achieved graduation from law school.

You do, however, have an opportunity here. This is one of those forks in the road where the decision you make will set in motion a bunch of future opportunities and challenges, so whatever you decide, make sure that you'll feel good about it at the time you make it--right?!

It's a shame that money alone is the thing that's preventing you from being like the other bar re-takers and passers who have taken the bar with the confidence that regardless of what happens, they'll have financial resources to be okay afterward, whether good news or bad news. That's some scary shizzzz to deal with, you're not alone there.

Question is, though: do you not have the money to re-take the exam, or not have the money to re-take study courses. [edit: looks like all of the above plus living expenses]

Only you know deep down whether or not you want to keep slamming your head against that exam, and only you can make the decision for yourself. You can always consider what other career paths may be open to you, but only you know whether or not your desire to become a licensed attorney will prevent you from being happy doing anything else ...

That said, do you have a glamorous (or at least acceptable) job lined up for you if you were to pass?

TL;DR: if you REALLY want to be a licensed attorney (you're already a lawyer by virtue of having successfully graduated from law school), suck it up and if you didn't pass, go sling real estate with the knowledge that you are saving up to take the dang bar again!!!

[TxBarTaker09]

I had paying the bar exam fees and paying for bar courses (BarBri twice, then Kaplan once).

I thought that BarBri will let you take the course again free if you fail the first time?

They do, but it's not just the fees for that, it's being unemployed for 3 months and having to pay bills.

I don't have any non-legal job lined up for if I don't pass the bar, which is part of why I'm seeking ideas. All my job/networking connections are in the legal world, this would be completely uncharted territory for me.

[n900mixalot]

I thought that BarBri will let you take the course again free if you fail the first time?

They do, but it's not just the fees for that, it's being unemployed for 3 months and having to pay bills.

I don't have any non-legal job lined up for if I don't pass the bar, which is part of why I'm seeking ideas. All my job/networking connections are in the legal world, this would be completely uncharted territory for me.

Any job that gets you to your goal, becoming a licensed attorney, that you can handle doing for enough time to get you to pass the bar, will be fine--if that remains your true goal. In other words, if you REALLY want to be a licensed attorney, you will take a day shift at McDonalds and work weekends as a mall rat to get the money together to sit for the bar again.

Do you know what a goldmine your mom's real estate business is?! It's both an educational goldmine as well as a "commission-heavy" goldmine! Think about what skills you could learn while working for her, and apply toward becoming a fantastic attorney. You work with her on selling a great home, that may be a future client for you some day. Read through all of those real estate contracts, and get some hands-on experience working to understand how they affect your mom's clients--obviously, without giving legal advice.

[crimsontide]

Hi,

I'm kind of in your predicament. I took the July bar exam in 2012, failed, then went for an LLM masters (got cum laude equivalent), then failed the February bar this year, so I retook it in July. I have no interest in practicing law, and went into public health instead with subspecialties. I've worked in the government via internships and now, as a contractor for a high-profile org known by most Americans.

My parents are placing undue pressure on me to retake if I don't pass this third time around, but I have no extra money to retake. I'll probably retake it two or three years from now (giving time to get more contacts) or forgo it altogether. I've been interviewing for prestigious research fellowships and have come to the realization that I'm not strong in time-controlled test-taking. Even in law school, I needed extra time b/c of excruciating carpal tunnel (which since resolved itself).

I changed my way of studying by rereading old exams, focusing on trouble spots, reframing my MPT structure, going with my gut on MBEs (instead of doubting myself too much and changing answers constantly). I finished the MBEs 20-30 min ahead of time, but I'm pretty sure I failed (again, for the 3rd time).

Whatever happens, OP, just know that you made it this far, and we're all smart, intelligent people. Don't let one stupid exam determine your worth for the rest of your life. If you ever want to shoot me a message/talk further, feel free to.

[kingofcream]

you're already a lawyer by virtue of having successfully graduated from law school

I get that you're trying to be motivational here, but this is absolutely false. You are not a lawyer unless and until you are admitted to the bar (of whatever jurisdiction). Earning your JD is no small feat and should not be minimized, but it does not make you a lawyer. Claiming that you are a lawyer without being admitted to the bar can affect your ability to be admitted in many jurisdictions-it may constitute unauthorized practice of law.

Of course, in casual conversation or among friends and family it's probably no big deal, but you can't make representations that you are a lawyer on your resume or on business cards.

[fundamentallybroken]

you're already a lawyer by virtue of having successfully graduated from law school

I get that you're trying to be motivational here, but this is absolutely false. You are not a lawyer unless and until you are admitted to the bar (of whatever jurisdiction). Earning your JD is no small feat and should not be minimized, but it does not make you a lawyer. Claiming that you are a lawyer without being admitted to the bar can affect your ability to be admitted in many jurisdictions-it may constitute unauthorized practice of law.

Of course, in casual conversation or among friends and family it's probably no big deal, but you can't make representations that you are a lawyer on your resume or on business cards.

You're both right. Traditionally, a lawyer is someone who graduated law school, whereas an attorney is one who passed the bar and is admitted in their jurisdiction to practice law.

So, yeah, graduating law school makes you a lawyer. BUT, because the terms are used so interchangeably, claiming to be a lawyer without passing the bar is just begging to be called in to the attorney regulation people for a little chat about UPL.

[kingofcream]

you're already a lawyer by virtue of having successfully graduated from law school

I get that you're trying to be motivational here, but this is absolutely false. You are not a lawyer unless and until you are admitted to the bar (of whatever jurisdiction). Earning your JD is no small feat and should not be minimized, but it does not make you a lawyer. Claiming that you are a lawyer without being admitted to the bar can affect your ability to be admitted in many jurisdictions-it may constitute unauthorized practice of law.

Of course, in casual conversation or among friends and family it's probably no big deal, but you can't make representations that you are a lawyer on your resume or on business cards.

You're both right. Traditionally, a lawyer is someone who graduated law school, whereas an attorney is one who passed the bar and is admitted in their jurisdiction to practice law.

So, yeah, graduating law school makes you a lawyer. BUT, because the terms are used so interchangeably, claiming to be a lawyer without passing the bar is just begging to be called in to the attorney regulation people for a little chat about UPL.

Yeah you're right no state bar is going to care about the technical difference-the purpose of rules against the unauthorized practice of law is to protect the public, and the average person uses the terms interchangeably. Even many ABA materials I've seen use the terms interchangeably.

[TxBarTaker09]

For those who weren't following in the Texas Bar thread and were curious, I failed again, by 8 points. MBE screwed me again like it always does, I guess I'm hopeless. Oh well time to move on to a career of who the hell knows.

[txadv11]

For those who weren't following in the Texas Bar thread and were curious, I failed again, by 8 points. MBE screwed me again like it always does, I guess I'm hopeless. Oh well time to move on to a career of who the hell knows.

Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. I can't help but think how close I was to failing, and that it is pretty weird that you can't practice at 674, but get full rights at 675. Your score puts you damn close to passing, and I hope in the next few days you'll reconsider giving it another shot. I certainly sympathize on the MBE... I got a 128 (scaled), and I think it came down to a well-polished essay or two.

[TxBarTaker09]

My parents very much want me to retake it, I just don't know if it's worth sinking more time and money into if I'm just going to keep failing the bar exam because I can't get enough multiple choice questions correct. I don't really have any faith after three attempts in my ability perform in this section.

[txadv11]

My parents very much want me to retake it, I just don't know if it's worth sinking more time and money into if I'm just going to keep failing the bar exam because I can't get enough multiple choice questions correct. I don't really have any faith after three attempts in my ability perform in this section.

If you want the July 2014 Barbri books, they are yours. (just pay shipping or meet if in Dallas).

[Desert Fox]

Why can't you learn the mbe. It's like 6 topics.

[TxBarTaker09]

It's not the topics, I'm just very bad with multiple choice exams, always have been. Only reason I did halfway decent on the LSATs is because I spent an insane amount of time on them and they had more of a problem-working strategy to them than the MBE does.

Thank you for the offer for the books, but I have books from BarBri and Kaplan, and since the MBE is changing Feb. 2015 I'm not sure how effective the old books will be at this point.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Why can't you learn the mbe. It's like 6 topics.

Why can't you lose weight, DF? It's just exercising and eating less.

[numbertwo88]

Are you getting closer to closing the gap in terms of passing? Like failing by less points each time?

I also suck at multiple choice and will be taking this bullshit again in February over *two* freaking points.

It seems like your 8 points would be doable, I definitely wouldn't give up yet. Maybe sit the next cycle out and do it again in July?

& in any case, getting into law school and graduating is an accomplishment so many other people couldn't do.