David Behrend’s LawCareer Q&A

Q: I failed my state bar exam. Will I be fired from the law firm where I work?

A: Failing the bar once, even more than once, is demoralizing and depressing. But it happens, and, yes, it happens to graduates of Ivy League and Tier One schools. Most BigLaw firms will hand out a ‘Get Out Of Jail’ card for failing the bar if they really think it was a mistake that you failed the first time. In my experience, though, some graduates in your position may have to take time off from the firm to concentrate fully on passing the bar exam. But if you have been with your firm for, say, a year or more, and still do not pass the bar, I recommend leaving the firm, and doing contract work — maybe non-litigation work — or sell your BigLaw experience to a mid-size or smaller firm.

– David E. Behrend, M.ED., director, Career Planning Services For Lawyers
www.lawcareercounseling.com