There is a petition going around Forum

[unclejo]

hi guys
There is a petition going around to allow students to get licensed without passing the bar.
I graduated a couple of years ago and I have not taken the bar and don't see myself ever taking the bar due to life circumstances.
if they grant this petition, of course it would apply only to students who are currently registered to take the bar. it wouldn't apply to any random person. and I believe it would be a surprise, they would announce that it applies to all students who are supposed to take the bar in july and at that point you can't go and register anymore.

so strategically speaking, should i pay for the july exam even though I don't intend to take it / don't see myself being ready for it by then?

[nixy]

It’s not going to happen. Save your money.

[Vursz]

It’s not going to happen. Save your money.

Seconded. The bar associations will never go along with this.

[anonymous2898]

And even if they granted a diploma privilege program, I am fairly certain it would only apply to the Class of 2020; the COVID rationale doesn't exactly apply with the same force to graduates of earlier class years who chose not to take the bar in the year of their graduation and now suddenly wish to take the bar exam.

[QContinuum]

And even if they granted a diploma privilege program, I am fairly certain it would only apply to the Class of 2020; the COVID rationale doesn't exactly apply with the same force to graduates of earlier class years who chose not to take the bar in the year of their graduation and now suddenly wish to take the bar exam.

The COVID rationale, in my view, applies with similar force to out-of-state lawyers who've (a) recently moved, with continued employment contingent on passing the July bar, which has now been cancelled, or (b) intend to move, but now find their planned move delayed (possibly by up to a year if forced to renew a lease) due to the uncertainty over when the bar will be offered.

But regardless, agree with the posters earlier ITT that widespread bar waivers won't happen.

[anonymous2898]

And even if they granted a diploma privilege program, I am fairly certain it would only apply to the Class of 2020; the COVID rationale doesn't exactly apply with the same force to graduates of earlier class years who chose not to take the bar in the year of their graduation and now suddenly wish to take the bar exam.

The COVID rationale, in my view, applies with similar force to out-of-state lawyers who've (a) recently moved, with continued employment contingent on passing the July bar, which has now been cancelled, or (b) intend to move, but now find their planned move delayed (possibly by up to a year if forced to renew a lease) due to the uncertainty over when the bar will be offered.

But regardless, agree with the posters earlier ITT that widespread bar waivers won't happen.

Should have clarified--I agree in that I could see expanding the scope beyond just the Class of 2020 to include those with career/residence changes that now require a bar admission. However, I imagine the various State Boards will want some kind of documentation evidencing a current need for a 2020 bar admission, lest it open the flood gates to applicants, like the OP, who really have no reason for needing a 2020 bar admission other than to exploit current events in order to avoid taking the bar exam.