hoyatables
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,603
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Post by hoyatables on Nov 17, 2008 14:24:22 GMT -5
Ask your firm. My firm used to require we take the Virginia bar.
Also if you are a Virginia lawyer it will expand your ability to practice pro bono work in that jurisdiction.
But if you plan to move to NY go with NY.
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Bando
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
I've got some regrets!
Posts: 2,431
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Post by Bando on Nov 17, 2008 14:24:58 GMT -5
I dunno. Wilmington has a pretty strong local counsel industry going on. I don't think a DE bar admission for someone from out of state has much value.
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Z
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 409
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Post by Z on Nov 18, 2008 0:48:14 GMT -5
i was speaking specifically to the point re: transactional law. not any motions/pleadings to be signed in the transactional pro bono context (and frankly in my experience the overwhelming majority of big firm pro bono is done by litigators for whom the experience is most valuable in terms of developing their for-pay skills).
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Z
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 409
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Post by Z on Nov 18, 2008 0:55:11 GMT -5
cambridge i agree that ny is very common for choice of law but i still see more DE choice of law provisions. in the end most top end transactional lawyers are ny certified anyway (since they often practice in ny for a ny firm). my bigger point was that a ny license wont give you an inherent advantage or upper hand in doing a deal governed by ny law.
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thornski
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 155
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Post by thornski on Nov 18, 2008 20:38:35 GMT -5
I just started in DC and took the NY bar. I'd say either is fine. We had people at my firm who took VA, NY, CA, MD, and IL. So a big variety.
I do agree that if you plan to stay in DC permanently then VA might be better. I took NY cause I was up there for law school anyway, want to do more transactional work, and might end up back in NY or in Europe at some point (where the NY bar has a bigger presence in places like London)...
So depends on circumstances...
Another benefit of NY over VA: don't have to take the bar exam in a suit.
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CTHoya08
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Bring back Izzo!
Posts: 2,877
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Post by CTHoya08 on Nov 19, 2008 1:36:10 GMT -5
Another benefit of NY over VA: don't have to take the bar exam in a suit. I'm only a 1L, and don't know whether I want to go to NY or DC, but you just made my decision for me. DC and VA bar it is!
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FormerHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,262
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Post by FormerHoya on Nov 19, 2008 17:17:27 GMT -5
Another benefit of NY over VA: don't have to take the bar exam in a suit. I'm only a 1L, and don't know whether I want to go to NY or DC, but you just made my decision for me. DC and VA bar it is! You want to take the bar exam in a suit?!?! To each his own.
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afirth
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 289
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Post by afirth on Nov 19, 2008 19:11:10 GMT -5
what if you want to do mostly transactional work but stay in DC permanently?
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Jack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,411
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Post by Jack on Nov 20, 2008 0:04:33 GMT -5
what if you want to do mostly transactional work but stay in DC permanently? Ask someone at your firm. You will meet some associates who will give it to you straight- or if you don't, look for another firm.
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thornski
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 155
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Post by thornski on Nov 20, 2008 0:32:17 GMT -5
what if you want to do mostly transactional work but stay in DC permanently? As Jack said I'd talk to someone about it. But overall I would lean on taking the bar in the location you could see yourself potentially moving (especially in the first few years of your career). For example, some states (CA comes to mind) have no reciprocity with other states' bars. So basically if you don't take the CA bar and decide you want to move there, you'll have to take their bar (which would really really suck to take 2 bars). Similarly, even the states that have reciprocity usually have 5 year-ish minimums of practice before they'll admit you. So if you definitely definitely know you'll be in the DC area for at least 5 years, then I'd prob go with VA, even if you'll do transactional. If you have an inkling that you might want to go to another location (such as the state where you grew up, or where you went to law school, etc), then I'd lean towards taking that state's bar. But basically just best to talk with others who have been in your situation and see what they have to say, and see what your firm has to say.
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Post by StPetersburgHoya (Inactive) on Nov 20, 2008 7:47:33 GMT -5
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
Posts: 5,304
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Post by Cambridge on Nov 20, 2008 9:41:33 GMT -5
You can waive into DC from any bar as long as you get a 133 scaled MBE score.
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,900
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Nov 20, 2008 15:25:49 GMT -5
You can take two bar exams over the same three day period if the dates work out. I would strongly advise doing this if you are unsure about what jurisdiction you'll ultimately be practicing in, it is better to just knock out two over three days, painful as it is.
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thornski
Century (over 100 posts)
Posts: 155
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Post by thornski on Nov 20, 2008 23:39:07 GMT -5
Hey - yup sorry for any confusion - Cambridge is right that you can waive in from any state. I was just discussing what bar to take assuming that you started in DC, just to consider any state you might move to.
And the two bar exams is also a good idea - I probably would've taken NY & PA if I could but unfortunately the timing didn't work (both NY & PA had their essays on the 29th). But lots of people I knew took NY & NJ or NY & CT for example.
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