Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[nawee]

Hello,

Does "the Bar" means lawyers?

And does "study for the Bar" means the same as "study law"?

I thought "the Bar" was a specific exam that lawyers have to sit in order to have the licence to practise. And it is after law school.

Thank you,

Nawee

[CP]

Yes, "bar" is used in many ways.

In the U.S.A., the bar exam is the test that one must pass to be eligible to practice law. It is taken after the candidate graduates from law school, taking the degree of juris doctor, J.D. Law school, like medical school and other grad schools, comes after earning a college degree.

With the law degree, one is a lawyer but not yet eligible to practice. When the candidate passes the bar / passes the bar exam, he or she may become a member of the bar, i.e., a member of the profession of lawyers entitled to practice law. In California, the pass rate for the three-day exam is usually under 50%. So the candidate certainly must study for the bar / for the bar exam to have any hope of passing and becoming a member of the bar / of the fraternity of practicing lawyers.

There is a State Bar of California, the official organization that administers the bar exam and licenses (and disciplines) attorneys. The attorney must pay yearly dues and take continuing education in the law to keep his or her license current--to maintain membership in the bar. (In a sense, one never gets out of law school.) One can be disbarred or suspended from the practice of law by violating rules of the bar.
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