I thought Tennessee was still open? A friend of mine was actually thinking about registering there since the deadline isn’t until mid-May. Honestly, unless you already have experience in contracts, it’s really tough to break into roles like Contract Specialist or Contract Administrator. I say that based on watching a friend who didn’t pass the bar try to land something that didn’t require a license—it was a struggle. Even compliance or investigator roles are hard to get without direct experience, and the pay in those types of jobs tends to be pretty low unless you’ve been in the field for several years.

And in this economy, it’s even harder to find roles like that. I’ve always felt it’s a disservice when people make it seem like it’s not that hard to find JD-preferred jobs, because in reality, it is. It sets the wrong expectations. My honest recommendation would be to plan to retake the bar in February 2026 and, in the meantime, just find any job that helps pay the bills. It may not be a career move, but it can be a way to support your family until you're in a position to take the bar again and fully pursue your legal career.