I Have Passed the Bar but I have a Unique Situation I need Guidance on
Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2021 6:16 pm
Hi all. I am a 2018 law school graduate who, unfortunately, did not pass the bar until February 2020. I left the firm I worked at for two years after I passed the bar and I was hired as in-house counsel at a company. On my resume, I made it clear that, although I had passed the bar, I was still awaiting admission, and also made this clear throughout my interview process.
Here is where I know I have screwed up - upon being hired, I have now delayed applying to the bar for nearly a year. As all my work is still under the supervision of barred attorneys and flows through attorneys, I thought the "law clerk" protection firms do still applied, so did not feel the pressure to complete and submit my application quickly. Even if that protection does apply, however, I fully own and admit this was a mistake, and my situation is of my own making. I have no idea why I didn't just submit and get this over with. I want to take the proper steps to correct this while hopefully not getting myself fired, denied for bar admission, or both. Does anyone have any guidance on the proper next steps to take here to make sure everything is as above-board as possible to correct this? I just want to submit, get admitted, and move on with my life and am now stressing wondering if I have potentially ruined my career.
Here is where I know I have screwed up - upon being hired, I have now delayed applying to the bar for nearly a year. As all my work is still under the supervision of barred attorneys and flows through attorneys, I thought the "law clerk" protection firms do still applied, so did not feel the pressure to complete and submit my application quickly. Even if that protection does apply, however, I fully own and admit this was a mistake, and my situation is of my own making. I have no idea why I didn't just submit and get this over with. I want to take the proper steps to correct this while hopefully not getting myself fired, denied for bar admission, or both. Does anyone have any guidance on the proper next steps to take here to make sure everything is as above-board as possible to correct this? I just want to submit, get admitted, and move on with my life and am now stressing wondering if I have potentially ruined my career.