How do you tell your employer that you want to study for a bar exam where the firm does not have an office? Thinking of taking the Florida bar (I feel like I want to settle there in a few years) but I would need to let my current firm know and am wondering how they would feel since they don’t have an office there.

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My understanding is you should study in the evenings and weekends and make both work. I would not tell my employer, because you may change your mind but they will always think you have one foot out the door and it will hurt your career.

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Agree with this. I would start looking for your replacement. You'd be out the door asap

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Honestly reciprocity rules are changing. If you have no current plans to relocate I’d just hold off. You may get lucky and never have to take the bar there or if you do it may be a shorter modified exam.

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I don’t think FL will ever have reciprocity. Too many lawyers retire there. The FL bar is very defensive of these folks already.

Agree with A1. It will look suspicious. Also don’t be afraid to tell a few white lies about time off. For example if you take the week before the bar off (which you should), don’t be afraid to make up some boring excuse that nobody will ask follow up questions about (eg a cousins wedding out of state or a grandparents 50th wedding anniversary in a flyover state or something). Pick a boring location and no one will ask you follow up questions.

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I don’t disagree with the above comments, but they are one side. I did this at my first firm because expansion into the neighboring state wasn’t unreasonable even though we exclusively practiced in our home state. Another atty joined the firm with the out of state license and our clients had operations in the new state, so it made sense. The firm was receptive to my taking the bar—but made it clear to do it on my own time and cost.

Point being, if it is reasonable the license will benefit your firm (firm’s growth, bring in more business from current clients, etc.), your firm might be receptive. But if you don’t have any legit reason that directly supports the firm, then you should tread very carefully.

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However, if you sell to them the idea of expansion for the firms sake and they are lenient with you taking some time away to study for the firms benefit, then you cannot jump ship right afterwards to a new firm in Florida.

Agree that you don’t need to tell anyone what you do with your own personal time and schedule a vacation for the bar exam and just say you have a family commitment. If you want to tell them:

Dear, partner/hr person. FYI, I am studying to take the bar in FL, because I think it will benefit my personal development and growth opportunities in the future. I will let you know if am am successful and once I am licensed in the state in the even that we have a need for counsel in fl.

Thanks,

Indecisive Associate who is scared to communicate.

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That sign off was too relatable

As someone who recently sat the CA bar, isn’t the FL application for eligibility going to ask for contact information for all law related jobs?

I think it’s better to be upfront because I don’t believe you can hide this

Agreed. It’s possible they won’t contact your current employer, but be prepared that they will. Better to raise the issue directly than look like you were hiding it.

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