Has anyone made a move from east coast to CA big law (diff firm) and only taken the CA bar upon moving? Had a recruiter tell me one MUST be barred in CA to even be considered and am curious about folks’ experiences w this

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This recruiter is misinformed. Most firms won't require it and you can just focus on those

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I can confirm that I made the move from biglaw NY to biglaw CA before being barred. Am currently working in CA, have a line in my signature saying I’m not barred in CA and am planning to take the CA bar in Feb. I think some firms are more strict about it than others and will require that you get admitted first before moving to the CA office.

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Same!

Yes. I was on the east coast, found a firm that was hiring for CA, was hired, worked out of their local office in the east coast city while I studied for and took the CA bar, then moved to the CA office.

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The office of the general counsel (OGC) did not want me to move to CA until I had passed the bar and been admitted. I was actually sworn in the morning after I moved and the OGC was trying to make me add the *not admitted in CA* disclaimer to my email signature for that one day 😅

(In California you're deemed admitted the day you are sworn in so there was literally no gap)

I can give you the name of the recruiter I used if you like.

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I got a job and am not barred in CA. I have to take the bar but will get paid leave for it.

FWIW I had a terrible time with recruiters in the CA market. I had some tell me things that were flat out false (re number of firms, practices available, etc). For whatever reason I felt like they were trying to talk me out of CA, nevermind that my whole family is there & I wanted to be near them. Maybe not helpful info but it was frustrating to get such bad info from recruiters.

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Not true. I did it prior to being barred in CA. I know a few other people who did the same.

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My group had several laterals who moved from out of state and worked as law clerks until they had passed the bar.

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Yep my friend moved from our nyc office to LA office without taking CA bar exam yet (think our firm gives you like a year to take it?) then lateraled to another firm before taking CA bar exam

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Depends on the firm and practice group sometimes, but have seen firms that don’t care (esp for corporate)

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