jeffy

is it common to take multiple exams? Like taking California bar exam this Feb and then Illinois bar exam this summer.

If it is common, how long do you recommend wait before taking the second one. Does it help you land a job or does it hurt?

Do and Don'ts highly appreciated.
Category: IL - Illinois Bar Exam

aspidistra

I don't know how common it is, but I'm taking it in two states - Indiana in Feb and Illinois in July. My understanding is that Illinois will only take the MBE if you've taken it within the past year, so I don't recommend waiting long between exams!

cabartutor

I can only speak to my own experience obviously, but i took MA in the summer, and then took the very next administration of the bar in California in February-- including the MBE again as CA does not accept other MBE scores. Many people double up states in the same sitting (like NY/MA or MA/NH).

It is hard to say if it is common-- does it really matter if it is? The bar is not about everyone else and what they do-- it is about you. But from my experience, it is better to take whatever 2nd bar you want to take immediately after your 1st so that your brain is somewhat still tuned in to that studying-lifestyle and the material is a little fresher in your memory than it will be if you wait longer.

Job wise-- i am not sure it matters. You can't really work in two states simultaneously-- or in the jobs that you can, i am pretty sure they want you to have a lot of experience (multi-district litigation comes to mind). Take the bar where you want to live/practice. Perhaps if you live close to the border of another state it would be helpful, depending on the area of law you want to work in. Like MA/RI if you want to practice environmental or marine law for example.

Don't waste the time and money on an admission you won't use though-- in addition to the bar fees and lost work time used for bar prep., those yearly bar membership fees add up. Like this year I am not only shelling out $220 to MA, but $400 to CA! Just food for thought...

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CABarTutor
~recent grad ('06), admittee MA/CA, and Tutor in the Los Angeles area.