How does retaking CA bar more than 2 times affects your chances at employment? Forum

[pinkfeminist]

I failed the CA bar twice. How does this affect my chances at getting a job? How do employers look at an applicant that has failed the bar twice? How do you get a job after failing the bar multiple times? Are you stuck working really low paying jobs?

[kellyfrost]

Not familiar with California specifically, but I am in other states.

Passing the bar after failing is the biggest hurdle. Once you have the license it becomes less and less of an issue each year you practice. After your first job, I would be surprised if anyone asked about the bar.

I've been in a similar situation to you and I wouldn't get your hopes down. No, I am not stuck with shitty low paying work.

I know it seems difficult right now, but try to keep your chin up. If you need to talk to anyone don't be afraid to reach out.

[pinkfeminist]

Thank you.

Can I ask how you got your first job?

[Notorious RBG]

Typical lawyer answer- it depends. Obviously if you are working for BigLaw and you fail, that is a specific beast. There is usually a lot less leeway here, as in they have a policy and that's that. A lot of big firms give you two chances, then... you're done.

Outside of big law, there are so many different circumstances and factors that would be considered. Were you already practicing in another state? Where'd you go to school and how were your grades? Other professional experience in an area of particular interest? Is your parent a managing partner? Did you take it five times in a row or 10 times over 15 years? Do you say you failed or is it just glossed over in the application process? The many factors and circumstances are basically infinite. And attorneys run the gamut from extremely salt of the earth who may have failed the bar themselves and genuinely think it's dumb, to some who genuinely believe you're a moron if you don't pass. That's just how the industry is, riddled with super snobs and they're not always in the jobs you'd expect. I would say, though, that where you went to law school and whether you have certain honors (cum laude, law review) seem to have more impact on hiring, in my anecdotal experience. Which kind of makes sense, because it's not like you offer I FAILED THE BAR THREE TIMES to clients. It seems to be a don't ask don't tell kind of thing.

In my experience, most lawyers won't even ask you if you failed the bar, they'll just assume you did (at least once) if you weren't admitted to a bar somewhere right after graduating. How they react to that information is really across the board. For some jobs, like government jobs, you just need to meet a minimum threshold of being admitted and otherwise the hiring attorney isn't even syncing up the timeline too carefully cuz they don't care. Some small firms are super anal about class rank and first time bar passage (please don't be that person that puts "passed bar on first try" on your online bio- if you're that amped to share this info put your grad year and admission year and anyone else who cares enough to notice will see you passed on your first try).

I don't think there is a massive difference between 2, 3, 4 times but if it's suddenly been 3 years since law school and ALL you've done is study for the bar, you're going to be asked to account for that time. I think if you can honestly and positively address the gap, and they like you for other reasons (good law school, pertinent experience, good personality) a lot of hiring attorneys would give you a shot. If you let your failures make you feel like an abject failure, it will show in your applications and interviews.

[kellyfrost]

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