<p>Upon graduating from law school and recruitment from a law firm (perhaps), you then have to take and pass a State Bar Exam before you can practice law at the state where your prospective law firm is located, correct? So how do you prepare for this exam? Is it possible to take two bar exams for certain states (say New York and California) within one period?</p>
<p>My buddy just graduated from OSU's LS and he is taking the bar, it costs like $3,000 to take, and if you fail, you have to repay the 3 large!</p>
<p>Is there any reciprocity in state licensure?</p>
<p>Most every graduating law student takes a bar exam prep course, the most prevalent of which nationally is the BAR/BRI. Many mid-size and large law firms will pay for the course for graduates they hire. </p>
<p>As to taking two during the same period, it is usually not possible because most states have the same dates for their exams (which are given twice a year); the reason that occurs is that one day of the exam (which is usually two) is for the uniform multi-state test which is given at the same time in every state that uses it. It is also something that may not get you anything because many states also generally require that you intend to practice in that state (have your office there) to get a license (California does not have that requirement).</p>
<p>There are a few exceptions to the rule that you must take a bar exam out of law school to be able to practice in a state-- example, in Wisconsin, those who graduate from the University of Wisconsin's law school are admitted without a bar exam.</p>
<p>Reciprocity exists among many but not all states. Usually, you can move from one state to another and if you have practiced law for several years in the state from which you are moving, you can become licensed in your new state without taking a new bar exam. However, all reciprocity rules I am aware of do have a several years of practice requirement, usually 5 years, as a condition. Notable exceptions to reciprocity are California and Florida which do not have reciprocity.</p>
<p>I'm just expanding a bit on Drusba's comments. I note that the OP is still in high school.</p>
<p>The most common way to prepare for a bar exam is to take a prep course run by a commercial company. </p>
<p>How difficult the bar exam is depends upon (a) the pass rate and (b) how unique state law is. It's generally a bad idea to try to take two bar exams in states which have relatively low pass rates and unique laws. It's pretty common to take one "tough" bar and one "easy" bar--especially if your home state is the "easy" one. </p>
<p>Some states have post-bar exam requirements. For example, the New Jersey bar exam is pretty easy--or at least it used to be. However, you must also take and pass a skills course before you are actually admitted. </p>
<p>The most common "reciprocity" threshold is 5 years of practice. A few states--California is a notable example--not only do not allow reciprocity, they give a DIFFERENT BAR EXAM to experienced attorneys. In theory, this is because you are holding yourself out as an experienced attorney. In reality, it's because it doesn't want semi-retired people to hang out a shingle and work part-time, thus reducing the available work load for younger, full-time atttorneys. The bar exam for "experienced" attorneys is a LOT harder than the one for people who just graduated. Again, this may have changed. I'm talking about the rules about 15 years or so ago. </p>
<p>Other states--New Jersey used to be one of them; I don't know if it still is--require you to have a physical address in New Jersey. This is designed to keep New York attorneys from taking the easy New Jersey bar and accepting a New Jersey case every now and then. You've got to lease an office. No office, no bar admission. </p>
<p>In some states, almost everyone with a pulse can pass the bar exam. In other states, it's much harder. </p>
<p>But..who knows what the situation will be like 7+ years from now when the OP actually has to take one.</p>
<p>Experienced atorneys in California get to skip the multistate portion of the bar exam. They sit for two of the three days of the regular bar exam. They're answering the same essays as the regular applicants.</p>