Why Take the Bar Exam Anyway?

The bar exam is a standardized test issued by the local Bar Association of each state, in conjunction with the National Conference of Bar Examiners. It is one of the most important steps in the process of becoming a lawyer in the United States. It is designed to test the skills and knowledge of a candidate to see whether he qualifies to practice law in a specific jurisdiction or not. If you have chosen to study law, you should know all the right reasons for taking the bar exam in the first place. Once you have a clear idea of why it is important to take the bar exam, you can proceed further to find the right job for you in different countries of the world. If we break down the importance of taking the bar exam into some points, it will help address the query “Why take the bar exam anyway?” that comes across several people’s minds.

First of all, a bar exam allows lawyers to practice law in that country. So, you should make an informed decision at the right time to be able to practice what you have studied so far as an admitted lawyer in the different spheres of the world. For instance, if you have decided to study law in the US, the bar exam is the most important thing that you shouldn’t take for granted. A lot of international students are pursuing LLM in the US to be able to take the bar exam.

The other best thing about taking the bar exam is that it is very helpful on the resume or CV of both US and foreign employers. If you pass the bar exam, you will get a chance to demonstrate your understanding of the law in the best possible way which itself is an impressive accomplishment as a lawyer. However, you should be careful while choosing the state for the bar exam as it will enable you to practice law in that particular state. It is suggested to consider the requirements of the state while making this decision. If the requirements are simpler, the overall process will get smoother for you. For instance, New York is considered to be a popular state when it comes to fulfilling the requirements for the bar exam. However, California is one of the most difficult states for international students.

Moreover, the bar exam is the final step to prove that a law student has completed his/her education successfully. It is not designed by law professors but experienced lawyers to check whether you are capable of becoming a lawyer or not. However, every state has different requirements and criteria to ensure that the student can be an efficient advocate. For instance, New Jersey focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of every student to determine their ability to become a lawyer. A good bar exam of a state serves the purpose of protecting its public by using fair methodologies. In some states, you can take the bar exam without even going to law school. They make the students work under established lawyers to ensure they have proper acquaintance with the law. However, it is a different process altogether that has different requirements as well. You should know the pros and cons of taking a bar exam without going to law school to be able to make a valuable decision.

The bar exam is also important because it is a way to ensure that people who are practicing law have professional and certified licenses. Since being admitted to the bar is based on the exam, it makes sure that only deserving people become lawyers to protect the legal rights of the public. 

So, the bar exam helps keep the check and balance on the system and the ones who are willing to take this exam are making their contribution to a greater cause. It is a big undertaking as a lawyer and a meaningful step towards an outstanding international legal career.