Is law a feasible career for someone who will move every 2-4 years?

I am interested in pursuing a career in law, but I've had trouble finding information about the MBE and how extensively it qualifies you. My husband is in the Air Force and I'm concerned with being able to practice at each duty station. We will be moving around every 2-4 years. Does the multi-state bar allow you to practice in every state if you pass, or would I have to pass the state bar in every state to which we'd move. If the latter is the case, how difficult and/or costly would that be?

Also, where we are currently stationed does not have a law school so I have to wait 3 years until his next assignment to attend law school. There is, however, a paralegal program nearby. Would it be beneficial to receive a paralegal certification before entering law school either to my studies or to the competitiveness of my law school application?
Additional Details
I wish I wanted to go into healthcare. I just can't stomach the idea of having to touch people. I think that would make me a terrible doctor. :o) Thanks for the tip, though.

My undergrad degree is in a social science so a move to healthcare would mean remedial courses or an entirely new undergrad degree.

Princess Leia

The MBE stands for Multistate Bar Examination. It consists of 200 multiple choice questions in subjects that every law student should know (contracts, real property, torts, etc.). The scores would only transfer over from one jurisdiction to another for a limited amount of time (I think 2-3 years max). It does not allow you to practice in every state if you pass, as that is only a portion of the bar examination (depending on the state, it is 1 of 2 days of the exam or 1 of 3 days of the examination).

You would need to take a bar exam for every state you intend to practice in, UNLESS the state has reciprocity with the state you were previously licensed in. You *might* be able to waive into the bar (and not take the examination) if you have a sponsor (an attorney employed in the jurisdiction you want to work at) and/or have practiced for a certain period of time (usually 5 of the last 8 years) in the prior jurisdiction.

Each state has its own requirements of how people are eligible to take its bar examination, but one of the most important requirements is that you attend a law school which is approved / accredited by the American Bar Association.

With a high enough MBE score, one can waive into the District of Columbia bar.

Also, you can usually work as a paralegal while waiting to take the bar examination in most jurisdictions.

If the paralegal program is ABA approved, then it would be beneficial to get one.

As to whether it would be feasible to do so, that is up to you. Do you want to take the bar examination in every jurisdiction? I knew an attorney who was also married to a man in the military (she had been in the Navy before going to law school) so every few years, they'd move. I believe she got licensed in Louisiana, DC, and Rhode Island (she was already licensed in CA when I knew her).

Hope this helps...

M O

Law is a field which depends upon building up of a clientele and word of mouth recommendation. It is a terrible field for someone who is moving around constantly.

sassy2

No. You would have to pass the bar in many states with the move like that. A career in nursing might better suit the military life style.

mailaccount63

WARNING: Jobs in the field of Law are currently drying up FAST!!! This is NOT a good field to invest in right now. Reasons: very bad economy, people (mistakenly) think they can do their own legal work thanks to the WWWeb, there are TOO MANY law schools in the USA churning out WAY TOO MANY graduates (including law office support staff) to be supported by our country, typically those in charge at law offices are not interested in their employees' best interests, jobs at law offices are VERY political and competitive. In other words, you will spend a lot of money to graduate and then be unable to find a job.

Suggestion: Go into the field of Healthcare <<< LOTS of jobs there!!!

Good luck.

blktan24

u need ot be liscesnsed in every state u work in. not a good career for anyone but especially not for u. paralegal is much better.

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