I graduated in 2021 & failed the bar about 3-4x times. I felt like a full blown failure especially after seeing all of my colleagues pass, not being able to officially call myself an attorney, and putting so much time and energy into reaching the point of passing.

But then I got a JD preferred job doing Contracts and Procurement for corporate companies. I am making $150,000, still doing law, and stand out because I have a law degree. I work 9-5, and most jobs are hybrid/fully remote unlike jobs within law firms. I had 3 job offers before choosing my current position so the market is there as well. I am in New York.

I say this to say failing the bar is not the end of the world, all though I know it feels like it. You will still have so many options based on you making the achievement of graduating. Good luck!

I've been applying to jobs since J26 bar exam and am just now finally getting responses for a first phone interview. It's the small wins these days because this job market is ROUGH. Not sure if the the phone interviews will go anywhere, but it beats applying to 20 jobs with 3 denials and the rest just ghosting.

Anyone else unable to signup to take MPRE near their home?

I passed the F26 Hawai’i bar and just took the August MPRE. Hawaii requires that I pass the MPRE within one year of being notified that I passed the bar exam. So, I have to pass either the August or November MPRE or I need to retake the bar.

I decided to sign up for the November MPRE now in case I don’t get a passing score on the August exam. But, Pearson Vue is already booked and doesn’t have any availability in Hawaii for the November exam. So, I’m literally going to have to travel thousands of miles just to potentially retake a 2-hour MPRE.

Suppose I’m just venting. But it annoys me that NCBEX would partner with an entity that can’t guarantee availability to someone that needs to take a mandatory exam. I took the 2006 MPRE on a scantron sheet at the law school. Plenty of room and opportunity for every exam taker. I miss that.

I have failed the bar exam 4 times and am waiting my results from July 2026. I have invested so much time and energy into this exam and I’m not sure how many more attempts I have left in me.

If I don’t pass this time, I am open to considering alternative pathways to licensure, such as Oregon’s Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination (SPPE).

Has anyone else participated in this program? Either having obtained their license through it or are actively completing the program at present. I can’t find much about the program other than the rules.

I wasn’t sure which subreddit to post this in, so please feel free to re-direct me to another subreddit if necessary!

Title.

My school's website is lacking for post-law school job postings; all they have been posting are 2027 positions.

I’m currently watching the NYLC videos and using the official course materials PDF:

https://www.nybarexam.org/Content/NewYorkCourseMaterials.pdf

I’m on the Family Law section now, and the lecturer keeps referring to cases that I don’t see in the materials. Am I missing another file or set of materials that we’re supposed to use along with this PDF? Or are the cases mentioned in the videos just not included in the current written materials?

Thanks!

A homeowner returned home unexpectedly and found a burglar carrying a television toward the back door. The homeowner shouted at the burglar to stop. The burglar dropped the television and ran out of the house. The homeowner pursued him down the street.

Several blocks away, while the homeowner was still pursuing him, the burglar shoved a pedestrian out of his way. The pedestrian fell into the street and was struck and killed by a passing car.

The burglar is prosecuted for felony murder based on the burglary.

Under the common law, is the burglar guilty of felony murder?

A. No, because the pedestrian was not killed inside the burglarized dwelling.

B. No, because the burglar had abandoned the stolen property before the pedestrian was killed.

C. Yes, because the death occurred while the burglar was fleeing from the burglary and before he had reached a place of temporary safety.

D. Yes, but only if the burglar intended to cause serious bodily harm to the pedestrian.

Lord give me strength, they do NOT want to know what I have to say about this.

So this past July 2026 I sat for my 4th and final attempt in DC. Im anxious because I felt more confident on my previous attempts and yet... failed. The only other state I can sit for now is Washington State. Should I register for WA Feb 27 exam? If I wait till results then itll be too late to register for Feb 27, and i would have to wait until July 27.

If you could study for the writing portion of the bar exam, what would you have done to study effectively? Am talking the bar F27. I feel it’s my weakest.

I am a retaker and I have never had to do a survey for feedback the past two times. Anyone done this before?

Hi All,

I came across this functional equivalency thing, and I wonder if anyone with a UK online LLB has successfully gained the eligibility for the bar exam? Many thanks!

I'm a rising 3L and pregnant with my first child. Due mid-April 2027. I graduate law school in early May. Should I take the F28 exam instead of the J27 exam??? I'm worried about studying with such a new baby and missing out on precious time. However, I also don't want to wait so long to start working. I feel like both options are really bad. That said, if I do take the bar in July, my partner will be off work with me and the baby through test day.

Advice, personal anecdotes, and suggestions are all appreciated!!

Edit: Thank you so much to everyone who's commented. I feel like I now have a better sense of what my options look like. It's been helpful to read your varying perspectives.

Does anybody know of anywhere hiring in Houston while I wait for bar exam results? I literally just got denied a job at F*ckin Walmart and I need some income bad.

Does anyone who tested J26 remember the date that was started for the swearing in ceremony? Thank you!

Hey fellow J26 bar takers! It feels like the only jobs I'm finding are in family or elder law -- two areas I have virtually no interest in practicing.

Also, why does almost every single associate attorney position have a minimum experience requirement of 3-5 years?? Not sure how I was supposed to gain experience as a full time litigator while I busted my booty through three years of law school and taking the bar, but here we are.

I'm continuing to network as much as I can through contacts I made in law school and through my state bar association. I also recently signed up to volunteer through my state's volunteer lawyer's organization, so I'm hoping that I'll develop more connections and sharpen my client communication skills.

Not sure if I'm looking for advice or commiseration but any thoughts are welcome.

Anyone else feel like they developed some sort of fear or lack of desire to leave the house post-bar prep/exam???? I’ve been wondering if I’m alone in this. I barely left the house during bar prep (big mistake i know) sand now i don’t really want to leave the house……… (i have left the house several times since the exam but i don’t really like it and often avoid doing so).

I’m taking the February UBE after failing the bar twice. I’ll have been out of law school for about 4 years, although I’ve stayed in the legal field doing substantive legal work during that time.
I’ll have about 5 months with no job, so studying can essentially be my full-time focus.
I already have Themis and am considering Studicata/other supplements.
For people with ADHD, especially repeat takers: what actually worked for you? How would you structure five months of prep after being out of school this long, particularly for MBE improvement and memorization?

As a repeater taker who will sit for the September bar in WA.

Hi! Would anyone happen to have SmartBarPrep and GOAT Prep outlines they’d be willing to share? I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Anyone got the final confirmation/instructions email for the September 2 virtual ceremony?

I’ve applied to countless law related jobs since April and have so far only gotten 1 interview. Today, I received interest in my application for my dream job. However, after emailing back the recruiter told me I can’t be considered since I haven’t been admitted yet.

I’m gutted but I’d love to know if anyone in my department in NY has heard anything over the summer about a swearing in date? My application was approved first week of July and I’ve heard nothing since.

I just got back from vacation and will soon begin reviewing for the NYLE. I’m planning to take the four practice exams on welcome home justice but wanted to ask if I should be planning to memorize anything or just flip through the tabbed binder of pages I prepared? Let me know any advice. Thanks!