My Journey To The New York State Bar - One Step Closer

As my character and fitness interview was scheduled for 9:00am on Wednesday January 17, 2018, I decided to fly out to New York on Monday so that I could give my body clock a few days to get used to the 5 hour time difference! I flew out with my mum. My sister who was at an art festival in Germany at the time and my friend Selena who was living in Florida, joined us on Wednesday evening, in time for the Thursday's swearing in ceremony. 

In order to be sworn in on the Thursday, I first had to pass the interview on Wednesday. I was a little nervous, not knowing what questions they would ask me but I was not worried about not passing the interview as I didn’t believe they would have me, and my family fly out to New York from England if they had an issue with my application or if they didn’t think I was fit to become a lawyer!

When I reported to the "The Egg" of the Empire State Plaza in Albany just before 9:00am, I expected to be in and out of there fairly quickly. How wrong I was. As my last name starts with P, I was right at the bottom of the list and had to wait in line for two hours before I was interviewed. During this time I got to know a few other people and we shared our career journeys. I spoke a lot with a lovely lady from St Louis who was already an attorney in her home state, but was now wanting to practice in New York as her teenager daughter had started boarding school and she wanted to move closer to her. 

When it was finally my time to be interviewed, I literally spent no more than 15 minutes with a member of the committee. He was intrigued that I was working within Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as an Aviation Adjudicator as New York, as well as London are both central forums when dealing international ADR, including arbitration. He then spent five minutes talking about the British and New York weather, his family and why he loves Albany, before shaking my hand and saying "welcome to the New York State Bar."

All the while I was upstairs, my mum was waiting downstairs in the foyer. I felt sorry for her, having to wait two hours for me, but when I went downstairs after my interview, she had made friends with other mothers from Arizona and Canada. They even exchanged numbers to keep in touch :)

I took my mum to the New York State Capitol which just across the road for a hot drink and something to eat at Dunkin Donuts as we were really hungry! I wanted to take a walk around the New York Court of Appeals but my mum was really cold. It was already -9 degrees Celsius which we were not used to! The hotel was less than 10 minutes walk so I took her back then headed to the court myself for a tour! 

The member of staff who met me at the reception was actually a Londoner. He was raised in Islington and shared how he came to New York. As the court was not in session, he showed me around and even allowed me to sit in one of the associate judge's seat, judge Jenny Rivera (who I would end up meeting a year later at a function in New York City).

My Journey To The New York Bar - Each one Teach One

Securing legal work has never been easy. When I reflect on my time at university, law school and preparing for the bar exams, I cannot remember a time where structured and direct career advice and guidance was given to me. I had to navigate finding work in the legal sector by myself and at times, I found myself working as a cleaner, administrative assistant, waitress and call centre agent just to put food on the table and pay rent and bills. Although these jobs come with transferrable skills, you still need the exposure and experience of working within a legal environment to put into practice your legal knowledge and to develop important skills needed for a career in law.

My university wasn’t very helpful at all and I was never accepted onto any mentoring programme! I had to find my own legal internships and volunteering opportunities at law firms, barrister chambers and my local advice centre. To raise money for a certain cause, I took on a temporary Christmas job as a waitress working at Christmas dinner parties. I met a lot of graduates with master’s degrees and some even studying for a PHD and they were frustrated because they were finding it difficult to secure paid or unpaid work placements, internships or voluntary work. 

At the time I was working as an Aviation Adjudicator and shared my personal experiences and how I could relate to them having to do any job just to make ends meet because you can't find work in your preferred field and what you had had spent years studying for. All of them were from Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) backgrounds which hit closer to home because I could see myself in them!

As I knew some people who worked in their field of interest, I took their contact details and tried to connect them with people who could mentor them in some way. Then for the law students and graduates, I started to think about what I could do. I had a desire to start some sort of program to help them, but I just didn’t know exactly what and how I would do this!

A year and a half later, I was finally able to materialise my desire to give law students and graduates, from different backgrounds, the opportunity to gain practical legal experience, working on real-life cases through the legal and social justice organisation I set up, United Legal Access. 

I initially focused on recruiting volunteers from BAME backgrounds, especially for the EU Settlement and Windrush Compensation work we were doing. It just seemed appropriate at the time to have volunteers who looked like the people we were helping. However, I knew that others needed the opportunity to gain legal experience and I did not want to restrict it to only those from BAME communities.

So, a year later, when we launched our virtual legal advice clinic at the start of the pandemic, we created opportunities for volunteers from all backgrounds. Today, we have 25 law students and graduates volunteering with us (as well as 20 volunteer solicitors and paralegals) from different backgrounds and from different parts of the country. Three of them have now gone on to secure legal jobs.

It’s amazing how our own personal struggles, misfortunes and experience can later be used to help others. I don’t believe in coincidences but we are placed in certain places and go through things for a reason. I am grateful that I am in a position to help young aspiring lawyers gain valuable learning experience that will help them in their future career, along side doing good for the community 😊

My Journey To The Bar - Embracing The Journey

 

Finally, all my documents were submitted to the attorney admissions office by October 2017 after several hiccups and delays. I was notified in November that my character and fitness interview was scheduled for Wednesday January 17, 2018 and if approved by the committee, I would be sworn in on January 18!

 

It was all becoming real now, especially knowing that in a couple of months I would have finally achieved one of the goals on my dream board! I was not worried about not passing the interview as I didn’t believe they would have me, and my family fly out to New York from England if they had an issue with my application or if they didn’t think I was fit to become a lawyer!

 

At the time my application was submitted, I also started a new job as an Aviation Adjudicator. This role gave me insight into working on international law cases. I had to assess claims made against airlines and airports and write decisions and recommendations based on EU legislation and regulations as well as international treaties (when dealing with claims outside the EU). The great thing about this role was that it was remote. Although the head office was in London, we could work from home and create our own work schedule. I loved it because it meant I could volunteer and do other things outside of this and, I did not have to worry about getting up early in the morning and commuting to work! Also, we could work from anywhere in the world, and some of my colleagues did just that!

 

Things were now starting to fall into place just in time for January 2018. I did a lot of networking during this time too, attending legal networking events and talks in London and learning about the career journey of some successful lawyers, especially female and black lawyers.  Their stories were inspiring and encouraging, and I clearly saw that no one’s career path is the same. Although we can draw inspiration from others, we must also embrace our own journey and own it! Do not get anxious or even envious when you see others progressing to a certain level. What is for them is for them and what is for you will come, at the right time.

 

My Journey To The New York Bar - Job Searching

With every new achievement comes the decision of what to do next and passing the bar exams back in 2017 was no different.

Whilst I was collating all the paperwork and documents needed to submit my application for admission, I was also planning my new career and job searching like crazy.

My job search for a newly US qualified lawyer role or associate role in an American law firm started even before I passed the bar exams. I am a person of faith and live by faith so I started applying for jobs as soon as I returned to England after sitting the bar exams in February 2017 and before knowing whether I had passed the bar or not!

I wanted to move to New York so badly and had applied for a visa but was unsuccessful twice. Another option I had was to secure a job offer in New York in the hope that the firm would then sponsor me for a green card. I had received a couple of interview invites. I was interviewed via Skype but as soon as the firms discovered I didn't have a green card, they informed me that they couldn't offer me the role.

My focus then was to secure a job at an American or international law firm based in London, then after a while transfer to their US office. I had seen some job opportunities that provided the opportunity to transfer to their US office after 12 months of working with the firm. I also spoke to different people in the US who worked for a global firm in their respective countries and were later transferred to the US.

I was offered a job as a US lawyer for a business immigration law firm based in London. However, when I received the contract and saw the low hourly rate, I queried this before signing. They didn't reply to me. When I chased them up a few days later, they claimed they had now offered the job to someone else. I didn't believe that and believe that because I wasn't willing to work as a lawyer but get paid as a paralegal, they were no longer interested in me. I reasoned that if I am going to get paid as a paralegal, I might as well work as a paralegal and that's what I did.

I did freelance paralegal work assisting small companies and a nursing home with legal, regulatory and compliance matters. Within a few months I managed to secure a temporary paralegal role at a top tier global law firm and worked with them for four months. From this, I started getting job offers from legal recruitment agencies for contract attorney and contract lawyer roles working with other top tier international law firms in Birmingham and London and all the cases I've worked on have been US/UK cross border cases, mainly New York or DC state law or federal law cases.

It might have seemed crazy turning down the first job offer as a qualified lawyer, especially because at that time I had already handed in my resignation after in Local Government for four years and would now find myself unemployed. But I also knew my worth, the amount of money, time and effort I had spent on qualifying as a lawyer. There is a different level of responsibility when you 'level up' professionally and it is only fair to be paid a salary that reflects that. Had I just accepted the first job offer, I may not have encountered the opportunities that followed.

My Journey To The New York Bar - Admissions process

After passing the New York Bar Exam and all over prerequisite exams, the next step was to apply for admission to the New York State Bar. For this I had to complete a very through application process which included providing references from all law school and universities attended, a ten year history of all legal work whether paid or unpaid, two character references, verification of 50 hours of pro bono work, any debts, convictions, mental health information and a list of other things.

I started off by contacting the university I attended for my undergraduate law degree. It was a complete nightmare trying to get them to send the correct information off to the NY State Bar. The admin team sent off the incorrect information twice which caused delays and was quite frustrating!

I then went to Nottingham Law School, where I started my postgraduate studies. I actually took this picture (above) in July 2017 when I entered inside the law school. At that time 7 years before, I walked out of that place feeling ashamed because I had to discontinue my studies due to extenuating circumstances. I had been kicked out of my home and was a homeless young lady living in a hostel. I could not continue with my Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) because of the financial hardship I was experiencing.

After graduating from university, I opted to do the LPC part time. This was back in 2008 when we were in a recession and training contracts where difficult to secure. I could not get a professional graduate loan from the bank to cover my law school fees due to having a very bad credit score. Therefore, I had no other choice but to fund the course myself by working full-time and studying part-time. When I became homeless, I had to leave the role as a housing adviser due to potential conflict of interest - advising people who may be placed in the same hostel as I was staying at.

I then got a full-time job as at a call centre but when you are living in a hostel and you work, 60% of your income goes towards the cost of staying in the hostel. After a few weeks of paying 60% of my wages to the hostel, my support worker advised me that it was not worth working full time and that it would be better for me to claim benefits. At least that way, the government would be paying for the hostel and I only need to contribute £28 every fortnight. I was then left with around £35 to live off.

Relying on welfare benefits meant that I could not save any money to contribute towards my law school fees. I had applied for bursaries, scholarships and hardship funds and managed to raise only £300. This was nowhere near the £2,500 needed to complete the final semester. I had managed to pay for the first one before losing work and becoming homeless. I was told I could not sit the end of year exams with fees outstanding. As I knew I could not clear the outstanding balance, I had to withdraw from the course. This was after spending 7 months on the course.

Before I went to visit the law school, I actually emailed two lectures who I always remembered. I was so happy when they replied to my emails. I reached out to them to let them know how I was doing. One of them said she always wondered what has happened to me so she was relieved to know I was doing well. When I had to discontinue my studies, they were very supportive. They went above and beyond for me and even donated some of their spare furniture and a computer to me, once I had settled into the apartment I was given after 7 months of living in the hostel.

It was a bitter-sweet moment, returning 7 years later to drop off a form for the law school to complete and send off to the admissions office in New York as part of my application to be admitted as an Attorney and Counselor-At-Law in the state of New York. I couldn't help but smile as I walked along the corridors because I could see just how faithful God is and that when we believe and do not give up, we will make it in the end.

My Journey To The New York Bar - Exam Results Day!

Before I sat the NYLE in June, I was waiting for the multi-state bar exam results that were going to be released on the last week of April.

 Leading up to results day, so many thoughts came to my mind trying to make me anxious. Doubts as to whether I had done enough this time round to pass. Thoughts of what would happen if I failed the exam again. Would I really be prepared to sit the exam for a third time?

I remembered a story someone posted on Facebook about an attorney in California who passed the California bar after 12 attempts! I remembered an article I read that listed some of the most prominent figures in American history, such as Michelle Obama, John F Kennedy, Hilary Clinton passing the bar after several attempts - so it wouldn't be all bad if I didn't pass second time round! I also remembered the conversation I had with a lady in Queens, New York, whilst waiting in line to be seated for the MPRE exam, and she shared with me that one of her friends had now qualified as an attorney after failing the bar exam 8 times!

But the voice of faith spoke louder and I remembered the peace I had on the last day of the exam in New York and that I had done everything I could have done and gave it my best!

26th April 2017 at 7:00am - I woke up and checked my Whats App messages. I saw a message from Samantha, who was my study partner, asking me if I checked my results! The message was sent to me just after 5:00am. As she was now living in New York, the message was sent just after midnight New York time, when the exam results had been released!

I quickly jumped out of my bed and checked my email! As a scrolled down, I suddenly stopped and started screaming! I woke the whole house up! My mum thought something had happened. I ran in her room to tell her I had passed. Then I broke down crying! Crying tears of joy! Crying because I had finally got my breakthrough. Crying because I had put all my faith, strength, time, effort and money into something and finally got the results I had been waiting for! Crying because I knew the next time I flew to New York would be to sworn in as US Lawyer! I quickly had to get my head together as I was starting work at 9.30am.

So I showered, got dressed, can't remember if I even had breakfast and then left for work! I was sooooo happy! I even shared it on my social media, but not before personally messaging certain family members and friends who had supported me throughout this journey!

My Journey To The New York Bar - More Exams?

Once I returned back to England after sitting the Multi-state Bar Exam in New York, I had to start preparing for the New York Law Exam (NYLE) which was the New York element the multi-state bar exam. Confused?

Okay, so before, the bar exam used to cover both the multi-state federal law (which is general legal principles and law across the USA) and the New York State law (which is law just applicable to New York ). But in 2016, it changed and New York state law, is tested separately. It is an online open-book exam with 30 questions. Which meant I could do it from the comfort of my dining room kitchen!

The date of the next exam was mid March 2017. As I had just sat the two-day multi-state bar exam in February, I did not have the head space to start spending less than a month to prepare for a second exam. I was also broke by then, as I had taken a whole month off work, which was on unpaid leave and needed to return back to work to start making money. All of my money I had made up until then, had been going towards paying for the exam fees, flights to America and accommodation, as well as trying to keep up with bills at home and personal expenses. I also needed a break from studying, as it had been a tough six months of continuous studying.

I decided to sit the NYLE on 15th June 2017, which would give me enough time to prepare. I took about four to six weeks off from studying and resumed my studies and prep for the NYLE in April. I felt this was more than enough time for me. By this time, I was now working Monday to Friday, full time hours and continued to do so up until the day of the exam. I used my evenings and weekends to study and would carry my revision notes to work so I could read through them whilst on my commute.

Sometimes we are in a hurry to accomplish things and just get things over and done with, because we do not want to be left behind or miss out on opportunities that everyone else one around us seems to be getting. This can sometimes do us more harm than good. Sometimes, it is better to take our time with things, to take time out and have a break so that our body and mind can recharge. Sometimes it is better to say ‘not yet’ to certain things, instead of rushing and trying to keep up with the Jones’.

If I had applied this mentality, when I first registered to do the bar exam, I probably would have given myself more time to study for it, instead of thinking that a three and a half month online study programme was enough. I may have had a better chance of passing the exam first time, instead of failing and having to resit the exam again, seven months later, and having to spend more money on exam fees, flights, accommodation etc.