NY Admission Application Forum

[Phil Brooks]

Would my girlfriend and be an appropriate person to sign one of my character and fitness affidavits? The instructions say the affiant can't be related to you by blood or marriage and can't be affiliated with your present employer.

Also, would my former legal employer be an appropriate person to sign my other character and fitness affidavit? He also signed my pro bono form (I volunteered for his organization).

Thanks!

[ClubberLang]

Would my girlfriend and be an appropriate person to sign one of my character and fitness affidavits? The instructions say the affiant can't be related to you by blood or marriage and can't be affiliated with your present employer.

Also, would my former legal employer be an appropriate person to sign my other character and fitness affidavit? He also signed my pro bono form (I volunteered for his organization).

Thanks!

I think both are bad ideas. Someone who does an employment affidavit can't do the moral character affidavit. Although the pro bono form isn't an employment affidavit, it covers the same ground. Under the letter of the rule it seems like you would be allowed, but it could cause unnecessary delay. Girlfriend just sounds like a bad idea. If you guys break up in the interim she can tank you.

[Phil Brooks]

Would my girlfriend and be an appropriate person to sign one of my character and fitness affidavits? The instructions say the affiant can't be related to you by blood or marriage and can't be affiliated with your present employer.

Also, would my former legal employer be an appropriate person to sign my other character and fitness affidavit? He also signed my pro bono form (I volunteered for his organization).

Thanks!

I think both are bad ideas. Someone who does an employment affidavit can't do the moral character affidavit. Although the pro bono form isn't an employment affidavit, it covers the same ground. Under the letter of the rule it seems like you would be allowed, but it could cause unnecessary delay. Girlfriend just sounds like a bad idea. If you guys break up in the interim she can tank you.

Thanks. I'm having trouble thinking of people. I did not grow up in this country and have not known any lawyers for more than two years other than ones I've worked for. For the other one, I suppose I can just find a non-law-school friend.

[publicservicelawyer]

Hey guys,

I took the July 2016 New York bar and now putting together the application packet for the Second Department. Can anyone tell me how to register with OCA? I tried to create an online account but they ask for an attorney registration number. I don't think I have one.

[ndp1234]

You have to mail it in to the address on the packet and attach the affidavit slip to your application packet. They'll give you a number at some point, and you can do your biennial renewals through the online portal. The full instructions are here, along with the complete form: https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/pdf ... ackage.pdf

[raptors_delight]

Has anyone heard anything from the Second Department specifically confirming receipt of their application and giving an interview or swearing in date? A bunch of people I know who sent their materials in after I did have already received letters from the First Department. I don't know if the Second Department is just slower or if there is a problem with my application (such as it being in a dumpster somewhere).

[QuasiINrem]

You have to mail it in to the address on the packet and attach the affidavit slip to your application packet. They'll give you a number at some point, and you can do your biennial renewals through the online portal. The full instructions are here, along with the complete form: https://www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/pdf ... ackage.pdf

Crap! I didn't attaché drhe affidavit slip to my application. Would they return the whole application because its incomplete

[ndp1234]

No, they shouldn't return your application. My reviewer called me and told me to send in the affidavit slip. After which, I got an invitation for the out of towner swearing in program on Dec 6 & 7 so I assume everything must be complete.

[QuasiINrem]

No, they shouldn't return your application. My reviewer called me and told me to send in the affidavit slip. After which, I got an invitation for the out of towner swearing in program on Dec 6 & 7 so I assume everything must be complete.

Awesome! Thank you

[mpusch]

Hate to be one of those people who register just for one question...

My wife passed the July exam and is now registered for the December NYLE. She called the 4th Appellate to get an idea of swear-in date ceremony and was told that since she didn't take it in October she will have to wait until June now. Not that it counts for anything, but this link (http://www.barexambrief.com/important-n ... am-update/) makes a point of saying that taking the December exam would still be timely.

Any other thoughts on the matter? It is what it is, but after passing it would really suck to have made a mistake and delayed admission for 5 more months.

[ClubberLang]

Hate to be one of those people who register just for one question...

My wife passed the July exam and is now registered for the December NYLE. She called the 4th Appellate to get an idea of swear-in date ceremony and was told that since she didn't take it in October she will have to wait until June now. Not that it counts for anything, but this link (http://www.barexambrief.com/important-n ... am-update/) makes a point of saying that taking the December exam would still be timely.

Any other thoughts on the matter? It is what it is, but after passing it would really suck to have made a mistake and delayed admission for 5 more months.

I think she''ll have to wait. You aren't certified for admission until passing the NYLE, and for the 3rd division anyway they say you have to have all your stuff into them by early December to be eligible for the January swearing in. They won't review your stuff until you are certified.

Your wife is not the only one going through this exact thing. With how easy the NYLE is, it blows my mind that someone who cares about when they are admitted would put it off. The hardest part about NYLC and NYLE is figuring out how to get multiple videos running at once.

[mpusch]

Hate to be one of those people who register just for one question...

My wife passed the July exam and is now registered for the December NYLE. She called the 4th Appellate to get an idea of swear-in date ceremony and was told that since she didn't take it in October she will have to wait until June now. Not that it counts for anything, but this link (http://www.barexambrief.com/important-n ... am-update/) makes a point of saying that taking the December exam would still be timely.

Any other thoughts on the matter? It is what it is, but after passing it would really suck to have made a mistake and delayed admission for 5 more months.

I think she''ll have to wait. You aren't certified for admission until passing the NYLE, and for the 3rd division anyway they say you have to have all your stuff into them by early December to be eligible for the January swearing in. They won't review your stuff until you are certified.

Your wife is not the only one going through this exact thing. With how easy the NYLE is, it blows my mind that someone who cares about when they are admitted would put it off. The hardest part about NYLC and NYLE is figuring out how to get multiple videos running at once.

Thanks for the input. There are reasons why it didn't get done in time, but none of them really matter at this point. Pretty disappointing. Onward and upward!

[WahooLaw24]

Answered, thanks!

[ArtistOfManliness]

Question 13 of the application asks whether you've ever . . . "otherwise been subjected to discipline" by any school which might reflect upon your character. In college I got "docked" by an RA once for being in the presence of alcohol (though not consuming it) while underage. Basically I just had to complete an online module and meet with one of the school's employees.

Is the general advice just to be on the safe side and disclose something like that? TYIA

definitely disclose

[MinnieMouse]

Would my girlfriend and be an appropriate person to sign one of my character and fitness affidavits? The instructions say the affiant can't be related to you by blood or marriage and can't be affiliated with your present employer.

Also, would my former legal employer be an appropriate person to sign my other character and fitness affidavit? He also signed my pro bono form (I volunteered for his organization).

Thanks!

I think both are bad ideas. Someone who does an employment affidavit can't do the moral character affidavit. Although the pro bono form isn't an employment affidavit, it covers the same ground. Under the letter of the rule it seems like you would be allowed, but it could cause unnecessary delay. Girlfriend just sounds like a bad idea. If you guys break up in the interim she can tank you.

Thanks. I'm having trouble thinking of people. I did not grow up in this country and have not known any lawyers for more than two years other than ones I've worked for. For the other one, I suppose I can just find a non-law-school friend.

Your character and fitness affidavit does not have to be issued by a lawyer in this country necessarily. One affidavit should be completed by an attorney in good standing in any jurisdiction. All my affidavits were issued abroad and so far I had no problem.

[Cellar-door]

Would my girlfriend and be an appropriate person to sign one of my character and fitness affidavits? The instructions say the affiant can't be related to you by blood or marriage and can't be affiliated with your present employer.

Also, would my former legal employer be an appropriate person to sign my other character and fitness affidavit? He also signed my pro bono form (I volunteered for his organization).

Thanks!

I think both are bad ideas. Someone who does an employment affidavit can't do the moral character affidavit. Although the pro bono form isn't an employment affidavit, it covers the same ground. Under the letter of the rule it seems like you would be allowed, but it could cause unnecessary delay. Girlfriend just sounds like a bad idea. If you guys break up in the interim she can tank you.

Thanks. I'm having trouble thinking of people. I did not grow up in this country and have not known any lawyers for more than two years other than ones I've worked for. For the other one, I suppose I can just find a non-law-school friend.

Your character and fitness affidavit does not have to be issued by a lawyer in this country necessarily. One affidavit should be completed by an attorney in good standing in any jurisdiction. All my affidavits were issued abroad and so far I had no problem.

Also of note, they PREFER at least 1 be an attorney, but it isn't a requirement.

[jt91isles]

Just spoke to a Bole Admin. Good news for all you T14 top 10%ers, if you scored above a 320 on the UBE, BOLE will waive all Bar admission application fees for UBE states.

Regards,

Mr. You-wish-you-scored-as-high-as-me-on-the-UBE

[ArtistOfManliness]

Just spoke to a Bole Admin. Good news for all you T14 top 10%ers, if you scored above a 320 on the UBE, BOLE will waive all Bar admission application fees for UBE states.

Regards,

Mr. You-wish-you-scored-as-high-as-me-on-the-UBE

Great news! Did Angie tell you?

[amsong]

Anyone else get interview/swearing in dates for 1st dept. My co-worker got his (we sent them in together), but I didn't receive anything. Is he the only one?

When did you all submit your app?

[raptors_delight]

FYI: I received an interview date. Second Department; submitted application a little more than two weeks ago.

[ndp1234]

Congrats raptor! I knew that they wouldn't return an application because of inadvertently forgetting to sign the riders. Is anyone else doing the out of town program on 12/6-12/7? They sent an email saying they'll send an interview time in mid November (granted they sent the confirmation just on Monday) but I haven't received a specific time. Did anyone else doing the program receive a time?

[QuasiINrem]

They just received my this Monday and I forgot to attach the OCA affidavit. But OCA already charged my credit card for the attorney registration fee...anyone from the second dept that already took their oath?

[EsquireNoir]

Are we permitted to submit copies of affidavits from previous employers or must we submit the original? In case it matters, I am in the First Department. Thank you!

[ArtistOfManliness]

Are we permitted to submit copies of affidavits from previous employers or must we submit the original? In case it matters, I am in the First Department. Thank you!

instructions say originals. they're notarized. they probably want the originals.

[MinnieMouse]

Has anyone from 3rd Dept received any confirmation for the interview or swear-in already?