Dear July 2017 Bar Exam Applicant,
As the bar-exam induced fog lifts from your brain, I expect that you will have a few questions about what to do now.
It will be several more weeks–or even months–until the official results are released, so you should try to return to life-as-usual. Go to work or start looking for a job. (And, if you find a job, don't forget to tell the Career Services Office.) Get caught up on all the errands that you put off this summer. Reconnect with friends and family. In short, keep yourself busy.
Your only real bar-exam-related responsibility during the next few weeks is to keep your character and fitness file up to date. If you change residences, get a new job, or make any other life changes, you must notify the Board of Law Examiners. The Board likely has an "update form" available for download on its website. The NCBE's update form can be found by logging into your online NCBE account. The Board will mail your exam results and other time-sensitive documents to the address that you currently have on file, so make sure that everything is updated.
For the glass half-empty crowd: Let me start by stating that immediately after the exam almost everyone I talk to feels like they failed the exam. But, only a small percentage of those folks actually do fail the exam. The reality is that the vast majority of applicants pass the exam on their first attempt. If you do fail, you should check with your jurisdiction to see if you are allowed to review your essay answers after the exam; you can learn a lot about your game day performance by looking at your answers. If you decide to retake the exam, you should contact the bar exam professor at your school to help you in determining your individual strengths and weaknesses, so that you may better prepare for the February exam.
For the glass half-full folks: Once you officially pass the exam, you’ll need to get sworn-in. Every state differs, but generally that requires a currently licensed attorney within the state to “vouch for you” by moving for your admission. For example, in West Virginia you and the person vouching for you must attend a formal swearing-in ceremony together. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania the formal ceremony is optional. You still need a licensed attorney to vouch for you by signing your paperwork, but you can have a notary or local judge administer the oath at any time.
Finally, you should be very proud of yourself for all that you've accomplished so far. (Did you know that only 1% of Americans go to law school?) I encourage you to take some time for yourself right now to reflect on your successes and to relax with your friends and family. You've earned it!
Waiting With You,
Kirsha Trychta
