Advise regarding J1 visa and changing status later to TN...?

Hello,

Currently I am in States studying for a State bar exam and I've been contemplating getting a J1 visa. My 6 month visitor stay is almost up and I was worried about getting denied at the border when I tried to re-enter the United States for an unpaid internship. So, I was wondering if obtaining a J1 visa would help. However, then my next concern is if I obtained a J1 visa, would changing it to a TN status be problematic?

Is there someone that has gone through or in the same situation as me and can advise me on:

1) if they have been denied after being in the US for 6 months,
2) changing to TN status with a J1 visa, and/or
3) having the 2 year residency requirement of the J1 visa waived)

I appreciate any advise that you give. Thanks!

i went from a J1 visa to TN status with no problems. if you are canadian, there is no 2 year homestay rule. i did the applicaiton myself while i still had about 4 months of J1 status. I did it by mail and never had to leave the states. i've renewed twice since then, also by mail.

but i don't know if lawyers are on the list of TN professions, and anyway if you pass the bar exam, you should have some law firm offering you an H1b

Thanks for your response