A couple questions about becoming a lawyer?

How much does it cost to prep for the bar in CA?

How much does it cost to take the bar in CA?

Can you only take the bar once or can you take it multiple times? If so how many? And how often "time lapse"?

If you go to law school but don't pass the bar what options do you have?

I realize that most politicians were lawyers. Did them being a lawyer help them get into office in some special way? Or was it just that there knowledge of law gave them recognition and there interest drove them to run to be elected? Also did getting into a very good firm and graduating from an ABA school in which they can practice nationally help them in some way?

Lubyloo

First, listen to maliacco -- she's absolutely, 100% correct!

I'm not a California lawyer, but I have a friend who is, so I'll try to answer your questions generally.

You'll likely spend $1000-$2000 to take the bar exam and for bar preparation. The California bar is a 3-day exam and, at least as of 4 years ago or so, has a 50% pass rate -- a MUCH lower pass rate than in other areas of the country (it's 70-90% in most other states). The reasons for the low pass rate are: (1) there are many unaccredited law schools in CA such that many graduates are unprepared to take the bar, and (2) the CA bar is very, very tough! It's a 3-day exam (in most states, it's a 2-day test) and just very hard -- unreasonably hard. (Note that any bar exam is tough -- I took the Missouri bar and was in tears afterward and was convinced that I had failed, but I passed - thank goodness. But I was so stressed over it that I actually was sick with flu-like symptoms and bed-ridden for a week after taking the exam!).

You should check the CA bar website, but my understanding is that you can take the bar an unlimited number of times (Why would they limit it? :) After all, you have to pay hundreds of dollars to take it each time, so it's a money-maker for the state.) My friend is a CA lawyer and he had to take the bar THREE times before he passed. (He was a good student and worked extremely hard to prepare for the bar.) He said that others were taking the exam for the 5th time or the 7th time, etc. Crazy!

I think you can take the CA bar each time it's available -- so you can take it in July, and then again in February, and then in July, and so on. Again, check the CA bar website to confirm.

If you go to law school and don't pass the bar, you cannot be a lawyer. You could, however, work as a paralegal or other type of legal assistant (provided that special certification isn't needed, depending on the state). I work with someone who went to law school and is working as a paralegal.

I'm not sure why so many politicians are lawyers. There is certainly no requirement that you should be a lawyer before running for office. I suspect that working at a large law firm can give a politician connections needed to raise money to run for office.

Elliott M

go to the California bar associations web site by use of a search engine

mailaccount63

If you go to law school, but don't pass the bar, you CANNOT work as an Attorney.

Warning! Jobs in the field of Law are drying up FAST!! This is not a good field to invest time and/or money in. Many reasons. Main reason?....We simply have WAY TOO MANY Lawyers - we have a GLUT of Attorneys!

So even IF you finish law school, you probably won't be able to find a job when you are done with your studies. Now, the law schools know this, but they won't tell you the truth >that the market/economy is SATURATED with too many Lawyers! A law student is easy money for a law school - they have to make very little investment in a law student (compared to other areas of study).

Suggestion: Consider and look into the field of HEALTHCARE! <this is where the jobs are! and scholarships!

Good luck.

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