Is it possible to take the bar exam without going to law school?

[Orsorum]

Is it?

Seems like it'd be fun to try, but would you be able to get a job at a reputable firm without the contacts made in law school? Or would you be able to figure out how to practice?

I dunno, is there any advantage to doing law school before taking the bar (besides the obvious preparation)?



The reason I'm asking this is that apparently an acquaintance of mine is taking some bar review class, yet she's still a third-year undergraduate, and aside from, well, taking the bar, I have no idea why she'd be taking it. Maybe to get some sort of an advantage in law school?

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I think the short answer is no. I know Vermont used to allow people to take the bar after working as a paralegal for a number of years, but I believe there are no longer any states that allow a person to take the bar without graduating from law school.

Frankly I learned a lot of things during the six weeks of the BarBri bar-prep course that I never gleaned during 3 years of law school, but in the main I think it would be dangerous to let people take the bar without going to law school - imagine being treated by a doctor who never went to medical school, but was enough of a whiz at test taking to make it through his medical boards - not exactly reassuring. The bar itself is much easier than any law school exam IMO, and I took the California bar (a 3-day test, and statistically the second-toughest in the US).

 

[Manzelle]

Sure it is...haven't you ever seen Catch Me If You Can?

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: Manzelle
Sure it is...haven't you ever seen Catch Me If You Can?

Seeing as how that was set back in the 60s... 😛

 

[Manzelle]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: Manzelle
Sure it is...haven't you ever seen Catch Me If You Can?

Seeing as how that was set back in the 60s... 😛

Point being? Contrary to popular belief, law schools did exist back then as well...

 

[episodic]

In the state of Vermont, but you have to apprentice under a lawyer. In California they have distance education law schools, but there are some 'stiff' requirements.

For 99.9% of lawyers, yes you must go to law school. You can't just go take the bar exam.

 

[BeauJangles]

Originally posted by: Manzelle

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: Manzelle
Sure it is...haven't you ever seen Catch Me If You Can?

Seeing as how that was set back in the 60s... 😛

Point being? Contrary to popular belief, law schools did exist back then as well...

I think all he meant was that it was easier to fake a degree and whatnot in order to take the exam.

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: BlinderBomber

Originally posted by: Manzelle

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: Manzelle
Sure it is...haven't you ever seen Catch Me If You Can?

Seeing as how that was set back in the 60s... 😛

Point being? Contrary to popular belief, law schools did exist back then as well...

I think all he meant was that it was easier to fake a degree and whatnot in order to take the exam.

Yep.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

this was an episode of JAG. ;o)

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
this was an episode of JAG. ;o)

Really? What was the outcome?

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
this was an episode of JAG. ;o)

Really? What was the outcome?

One of the JAG lawyers was found to actually faked her law degree. She had been a clerk and taken the bar but failed. IIRC, she then faked a degree to retake it, passed and became a JAG officer. She was ultimately courtmartialled and stripped of her job, as JAG requires a law degree.

 

[axelfox]

I think you can.

But once you get to law school, you have to finish before you can take it (I'm not sure).

Unless you're super smart, I wouldn't try it.

 

[Raj]

IF YOU'RE A PARALEGAL FOR A MINUMUM OF 3 YEARS. IN WASHINGTON STATE YOU CAN TAKE THE BAR EXAM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Raj
IF YOU'RE A PARALEGAL FOR A MINUMUM OF 3 YEARS. IN WASHINGTON STATE YOU CAN TAKE THE BAR EXAM WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

Caps Lock, anyone?

The WA Law Clerk program is fairly involved, actually, and requires four years of fairly tailored tutoring in addition to working as a law clerk. There is info on the program here. I must admit I live in WA (though I am a member of the CA bar), and honestly had no idea that WA allowed this. Interesting . . .