Questions for lawyer-y type peoples

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura)
11/13/2014 at 12:30 • Filed to: None

So I want to take the Bar. No, I've never been to law school, no I haven't even taken the LSATs. Yes, i know it would be insanely hard. But I want to take the Bar. My question is what would the return on JUST passing the bar be? Can you be a lawyer? Would anyone actually hire you? What would your prospects look like? Thanks for your time. Have a Cadillac Cien.

DISCUSSION (18)

Aaron M - MasoFiST > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:36

In Massachusetts, a law school diploma is required to even get into the test. The $900 application fee also seems to be a little restrictive on doing it for shits and giggles.

For Sweden > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:36

Isn't a JD a requirement to take the bar exam?

Textured Soy Protein > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:37

Come on now, is google that hard?

I googled "take bar exam without law school" and it excerpted the following answer from wikipedia:

Admission without law school
In California, Vermont, Virginia, Washington State, and Wyoming an applicant who has not attended law school may take the bar exam after study under a judge or practicing attorney for an extended period of time.

Admission to the bar in the United States - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/.../Admission_to_the_bar _in_the_United_States

Didn't even need to click through to a result.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:39

I think the only state that allows this is Louisiana. You may want to look that up though.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > For Sweden
11/13/2014 at 12:41

No clue...

Raphmoe > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:45

If you don't know how to use a search engine you're going to be a really shitty lawyer.

Have you tried blogging? No skill required.

jariten1781 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:47

I don't know of any state that just allows you to just straight take the Bar without some experience. Some have a 'Reading Law' program where you can basically apprentice for a lawyer for a number of years. No one does it though because you can't really get into a firm other than the one you apprenticed at by virtue of having no degree or traceable track record. In VA it's a no joke program either, not something you can do part time.

ACESandEIGHTS > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:48

I almost apprenticed with my dad. Some states allow a combination of law study and practical experience. I'd say without schooling you would have a 0% chance of sitting and passing and they would probably call you a charlatan.

macanamera > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:48

In any case you wont have much luck looking for work without a JD

ChevyMalibu > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:49

I looked at being a lawyer here in Canada, after looking objectively at the market and passing the LSAT with a reasonable score; I found that the outlook for a job is actually quite horrible. I was looking at spending an extra $20k for school and making less than I would with what I'm currently studying. The market is saturated, much like becoming an Accountant, because of the prestige it brings and others willing to work for less over not at all.

E92M3 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 12:52

Even if you finished law school and passed the BAR it's not easy to become a successful lawyer. For every successful one there are 2 struggling. I know someone that finished with $200k in school debt, but he couldn't get enough clients. Nor could he find a firm to work under. You almost need to personally know someone who has a firm that will take you in while you build your reputation. Then you can open your own firm or find a partner. It's very much a word of mouth/family business. Last I heard he was finally able to get a job as a public defender making nothing in comparison to his debt.

Rico > E92M3
11/13/2014 at 13:05

As usual its who you know not what you know.

trashycamaro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 13:20

Close to zero. Why would anyone hire you? 15% of recent law school grads are unemployed: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-…

That said, if you had a law license, nothing would stop you from suckering people into believing you are a good lawyer who went to a good law school, except the inevitable bar complaints, skyrocketing malpractice insurance, etc.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Textured Soy Protein
11/13/2014 at 13:36

you should check out the website "let me google that for you"

http://lmgtfy.com/

it's great in these situations lol

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > trashycamaro
11/13/2014 at 13:47

So you don't believe that I could be a good lawyer without going to law school? Does intelligence not exist if you don't pay someone to tell you that you are so?

Textured Soy Protein > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
11/13/2014 at 13:48

I'm very well aware of it!

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > Textured Soy Protein
11/13/2014 at 16:20

I like sending people lmgtfy links:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=take+bar+ex…

trashycamaro > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather
11/13/2014 at 23:29

I am sure there is someone in the world who would be a great attorney without attending law school. But experience is what makes you a good attorney, not law school. It would be very difficult to get that experience in today's environment without some sort of track record for you to be evaluated on.

For reference, large corporate firms lose money on associates for their first three years simply because they suck at being attorneys. And those firms don't hire students who do poorly in law school.