Unlock the Bar
@unlockthebarny.bsky.social
Unlock the Bar is a coalition of system-impacted and allied movement lawyers, law students, and partner legal organizations.
Find resources: UnlockTheBar.org
Find resources: UnlockTheBar.org
Want to learn about ways to democratize the legal profession and eliminate barriers to the full diversity of New Yorkers becoming attorneys? Join us for a virtual teach-in on the Character and Fitness (C&F) process 📢TOMORROW 📢 Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:00pm ET 📢Zoom RSVP: bit.ly/4oCD34I
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Want to learn about ways to democratize the legal profession and eliminate barriers to the full diversity of New Yorkers becoming attorneys? Join us for a virtual teach-in on the Character and Fitness (C&F) process 📢TOMORROW 📢 Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 6:00pm ET 📢Zoom RSVP: bit.ly/4oCD34I
“Many more stories have yet to be told, and we want to keep telling them. If you or anyone you know has interacted with the character and fitness system, we encourage folks to share their experiences.” 📝>> cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/for...
How the Character and Fitness Process Keeps the Legal Profession Wealthy and White
The character and fitness exam was an effort to exclude members of marginalized communities from the legal profession. It worked—and is still working today.
ballsandstrikes.org
August 22, 2025 at 2:11 AM
“Many more stories have yet to be told, and we want to keep telling them. If you or anyone you know has interacted with the character and fitness system, we encourage folks to share their experiences.” 📝>> cryptpad.fr/form/#/2/for...
Reposted by Unlock the Bar
My own experience with the character and fitness exam: I was nervous until I got to my interview, which was conducted by a middle-aged white guy who mostly wanted to shoot the shit about college football. And even at the time I remember thinking, "Huh, this feels...not entirely on the up-and-up."
How the Character and Fitness Process Keeps the Legal Profession Wealthy and White
The character and fitness exam was an effort to exclude members of marginalized communities from the legal profession. It worked—and is still working today.
ballsandstrikes.org
August 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM
My own experience with the character and fitness exam: I was nervous until I got to my interview, which was conducted by a middle-aged white guy who mostly wanted to shoot the shit about college football. And even at the time I remember thinking, "Huh, this feels...not entirely on the up-and-up."
We are still looking for your stories! Our success in investigating the character and fitness process depends on hearing from as many of you as possible. Take the survey and share this link far and wide. Let's make the profession more accessible for all!
tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
July 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
We are still looking for your stories! Our success in investigating the character and fitness process depends on hearing from as many of you as possible. Take the survey and share this link far and wide. Let's make the profession more accessible for all!
tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
The Character & Fitness process is a black box that shapes who gets to practice law. @unlockthebarny.bsky.social is gathering stories to expose how C&F impacts underrepresented communities & to help democratize the profession. Take the survey: tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
June 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The Character & Fitness process is a black box that shapes who gets to practice law. @unlockthebarny.bsky.social is gathering stories to expose how C&F impacts underrepresented communities & to help democratize the profession. Take the survey: tinyurl.com/UTB-People-S...
Today, we, along with Pal Legal, NLG, ADC, CCR, the Palestinian American Bar Association, and the Climate Defense Project sent a letter to C&F committees across the US warning that discrimination against pro-Palestinian activists violates anti-discrimination laws and constitutional protections.
January 16, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Today, we, along with Pal Legal, NLG, ADC, CCR, the Palestinian American Bar Association, and the Climate Defense Project sent a letter to C&F committees across the US warning that discrimination against pro-Palestinian activists violates anti-discrimination laws and constitutional protections.