Legal Job Market in Denver

[Scorpion3510]

Originally Posted by emm74

You should also look into requirements for the bar. Where are you currently licensed? When I moved here from MA, I was able to apply on motion and not have to sit for the full exam, but I still had to re-take the MPRE and the entire process took many months. And it wasn't cheap - I just looked and the current fee is $1800.

Just out of curiosity, why did you have to take the MPRE again? I'm licensed in two states that have reciprocity with Colorado and was thinking about moving there and waiving in.


Thanks!

[emm74]

Originally Posted by Scorpion3510

Just out of curiosity, why did you have to take the MPRE again? I'm licensed in two states that have reciprocity with Colorado and was thinking about moving there and waiving in.


Thanks!

I think they let you use the scores if they are new enough, but I hadn't taken the MPRE since I was first admitted 20 years before I applied. You'll have to research the exact amount, but I'm guessing probably 5 or so years, and if yours are older, you'll need to retake the MPRE.

I thought it was pretty ridiculous really. I mean, sure, I was happy to not have to take the bar exam. But I got admitted here without having to prove I knew anything about Colorado law. And in the meantime, being a member in good standing for 20 years in another state didn't count to prove I was ethical.

[MovingLar]

Originally Posted by emm74

Florida does NOT have reciprocity, so your fiance will need to take the full bar exam. The application deadline for the Feb 2016 is this Sunday, although I think you can pay a late fee and still register by 12/1.

Brown_dog_us is mostly right that having a license in hand will help with a job search. But if your fiance gets a job in house at a corporation rather than with a law firm, he could apply for a single client license. He could still take the bar exam after that to get his full license, which I would strongly recommend, but the single client license is definitely a good interim option. Several of the attorneys at my last job had them - some from non-reciprocal states, others because they could not meet the prior experience requirement to waive in (was 5 out of the last 7 years, it's now been changed to 3 out of 5) and they didn't want to take the bar exam again and they intended to stay in house, even if they went to a different company. You can't transfer a SCL, but you can apply for a new one if you change jobs.

ETA: you can't get a single client license before having the job, as your employer has to be listed on the application. So not having that license ahead of time isn't an impediment.

Ah yes the problem of needing a job before being able to get a single client license. Anyway, I am a Florida attorney who unfortunately has litigation experience in criminal and other civil matters, but I'm certainly finding it hard to transition into the corporate legal world. I would probably work as a legal assistant to start if I could find that right opportunity...

[Katarina Witt]

I would suggest the fiancee get on CD and ask the questions. S/he knows what questions to ask and will understand the responses better.

[emm74]

Originally Posted by MovingLar

Ah yes the problem of needing a job before being able to get a single client license. Anyway, I am a Florida attorney who unfortunately has litigation experience in criminal and other civil matters, but I'm certainly finding it hard to transition into the corporate legal world. I would probably work as a legal assistant to start if I could find that right opportunity...

Have you looked at insurance companies to do defense work? I'm not 100% sure they are set up in a way that would allow you to try to get a SCL (a lot of the ones I know have a captive firm but for payroll, HR, etc. you are considered an employee of the company). Something to look into where your litigation experience would be more transferable.

[MovingLar]

Originally Posted by emm74

Have you looked at insurance companies to do defense work? I'm not 100% sure they are set up in a way that would allow you to try to get a SCL (a lot of the ones I know have a captive firm but for payroll, HR, etc. you are considered an employee of the company). Something to look into where your litigation experience would be more transferable.

While I have been told not to be negative, unfortunately when one is not trained in an industry or career it is very difficult to transition. Even from criminal defense legal work to personal injury or insurance defense, firms and corporations want not to train or to do anything, just to get maximum output for minimal investment...