Can You Have A Law Related Career Without Passing The Bar?
They don’t call it the “bar” exam for nothing. You can spend six figures on tuition and expenses and pack your brain with black letter rules. But if you don’t pass, you don’t practice. You’re barred, so to speak. According to NCBE, only 2 of every 3 test-takers pass. If you fail the first time, your statistical chance of passing the next time is almost cut in half. So where do those wannabes who can’t pass the bar go? And what about those who want to work in the legal field, but not as a practicing attorney?
In September, the ABA’s Task Force on The Future of Legal Education recommended softening licensing requirements for providing limited legal services. However, US News and World Report noted there are plenty of opportunities for law school grads who don’t complete the bar exam. They include the following:
- Patent Examiner: This research-intensive position with the Federal Patent and Trademark Office doesn’t require bar passage, though potential candidates would need further training in trademark registration and regulation.
- Compliance Officer: In the wake of Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank, accounting, banking, and consulting firms need grads who can interpret and apply Federal and State regulations to their operations. And you don’t need to pass the bar (or even finish law school) to do it. The same analytical skills can be applied in corporate human resources and government regulatory agencies.
- Legislative Aide: Law grads can research, interpret, and even help draft legislation, giving them an inside look at the legislative process from beginning to end.
Of course, businesses are always looking for sales and marketing professionals. In fact, Betsi Roach, Executive Director of the Legal Marketing Association, projects a 14 percent increase in these role. It makes sense, as a law school grad will be more credible to attorneys and prospective clients in building business. Of course, don’t forget the paralegal track. According to Shauna Bryce, who provides career and school admissions advice to attorneys and prospective law students, “Being a paralegal can give you a really good overview of how a case proceeds from start to finish.”
Source: US News and World Report
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