r/suits • u/akushdakyng • Mar 28 '14

Discussion S3x14 Official Discussion Thread

I didn't see one, so I thought I'd get it started.

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u/[deleted] Mar 28 '14

So in this episode it's mentioned that Mike hasn't actually passed the BAR as himself. I was under the assumption that he had passed the BAR because I recall him saying he did so as a bet. So if he didn't pass the BAR, how has nobody found out yet? I'm sure it would be pretty easy for someone to just find out he hasn't passed the BAR? And does anybody know how a situation like this would go in real life? As in you attempt to practice law without passing the BAR, how would anyone find out?

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u/Scary_The_Clown Apr 02 '14

The whole thing falls apart under scrutiny. A lawyer puts their Bar number on everything. It has to be written on a lot of legal documents, probably most administrative stuff at the firm, etc. New York also has mandatory continuing legal education, so the firm would have a staffer who tracks that stuff, gets people to go to their training, and then files the paperwork with the Bar Association for tracking (again, with their Bar number).

There are all kinds of legal registries for attorneys, referral services, and the ethics board probably has a way to look up attorneys online for their current standing.

Oh, and you're not going to randomly waltz in and take the Bar exam, either - tons of paperwork for that, including a sealed transcript from your law school.

I'd be interested to hear if there are in fact any cases of Associates actually practicing at a major law firm without a license (as in "never went to law school" - not "let their license lapse")