Anyone with a two year ll.b. plus US LL.M. apply for the New York bar? Were you able to sit for the exam? I know this has been discussed for the last two years, but I just wanted an answer from someone who applied recently. A UK accelerated LL.B. plus American LL.M. Does that qualify one for the NY bar?

Three years of university education to be a lawyer? We might as well let high school or community college graduates take the bar.

The two year accelerated LL.B. is for those who already hold a four year undergraduate degree. I've been in higher education for 7 years, but thanks for the very unhelpful response.

LOL, this made me laugh. I like how arrogant lawyers are. Like the only thing important ever is the number of years in school. And the best thing about it is: some people probably are more qualified after 3 years than after 7. Good luck Raj. Hope someone has a good answer for you.

"Two wrongs don't make a right... but three rights make a left."

i think the us llm would make up for the 2- year llb (otherwise you could sit for the bar with a 3-year law degree from a common law country) - you just need to make sure you have a certain no. of credits in american law when you do your llm.
again, im not a 100% sure - so check with the NY bar examiners, or your us law school.

you mean you did the CPE and LPC? you can then only take the bar exam if you are qualified in the UK (as in you've completed your training contract) AND you have an ll.m. from an accredited law school. this i know for fact.

Hi

Does anyone know whether a two year LLB from the United Kingdom will meet the requirements for the New York Bar? I also have a 3 year BA and an LLM.

Thanks.

Hi....

A two-year LLB degree does not meet the eligibility requirements of foreign trained lawyers to take the NY bar exam. Take a look at the following website www.nybarexam.org. Section 520.6 of the Rules describes the requirements for foreign trained lawyers. One of the requirements is a 3-year degree. I hope this is helpful.

Good Luck.

He is right, even though I got first class in my first degree, i opted to do the Ll.B. in 3 years. I am hapy I made that decision because i now want to practice in the US- specifically New York. What I want to find out is if i can go stright into doing the bar exams now?

Please bear in mind that answers above are extremely misleading.

First, never but never seriously listen such answers without getting proper information from the New York State Board of Law Examiners, which you may easily reach at www.nybarexam.org and get better and more informative answers to most of your questions.

Second, there is absolutey no such thing as a two year law degree holder is completely ineligible sitting NY Bar Exam.
Please closely read below section, especially the very last paragraph that is related to curing the deficincies (i.e. two year law degree and an US LL.M., in this regard a minimum, of two year law degree and a US LL.M. might make you eligible)

(1) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals requires an applicant to provide satisfactory proof of the following:

(1) that the applicant has fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in a foreign country other than the United States;

(2) that the applicant has successfully completed a period of law study in a law school or schools, that is at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (d) and (e) of section 520.3;

(3) that throughout the period of the applicants study, the law school or schools attended was each recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country, or a political subdivision thereof, as qualified and approved;

(4) that the jurisprudence of such foreign country is based upon the principles of the English Common Law; and

(5) that the "program and course of law study" successfully completed by the applicant were the substantial equivalent of the legal education provided by an approved law school in the United States.

Curing a durational or substantive deficiency under subdivision (b)(1)(ii). Subdivision (b)(1)(ii) of part 520.6 permits certain applicants to cure either a durational or substantive deficiency by successfully completing further study at an approved law school in the United States. Specifically, if an applicant cannot satisfy the durational equivalency requirements of section 520.6(b)(1) but has at least two years of substantively equivalent education, or if the applicant cannot satisfy the substantive equivalency requirements of 520.6(b)(1)(i), the applicant may still qualify to sit for the bar examination by showing "that the applicant has successfully completed a full-time or part-time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, which includes basic courses in American law, in an approved law school in the United States." Prospective applicants should note that subdivision (b)(1)(ii) does not permit use of the "program of study at a U.S. law school" to cure both durational and substantive deficiencies.

Lastly, keep in mind that that your academic eligibility might be reviewed prior to your studies here in U.S. You may request an advance evaluation of your academic credentials from the Board.


I hope this will help. I am amazed the level of irresponsibility. For some, this is a life changing answer, and you are just shooting without even proper research , even not giving a pinch of care. I hope you are not lawyers, otherwise I pity your clients.

I've been meaning to post something about this for ages now but my plans to pursue the bar were postponed by a suddent detour into motherhood!

I have an two year accelerated LLB plus Diploma in Legal Pactice from the University of Edinburgh. I am a qualified solicitor with 6 years experience. I was interersted in doing the bar exam but had a similar dilemma about the 2 year LLB.

Having sought a letter of support from the Dean of the Law Faculty, I wrote to the New York State Board of Law Examiners in 2006 to ask about eligibility to take the bar exam based on my qualifications. As suggested by the poster above, I completed the Request for Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials Form, a copy of which may be downloaded from the BOLE website. You can find it here:

http://www.nybarexam.org/Foreign/ForeignLegalEducation.htm

Please note that certain documentation is required in evidence of an applicant's qualifications.

I eventually received a reply. The short answer is that in my case, any durational and substantive deficiency in my Scots LLB could be cured by completing a one year LLM in an approved law school in the United States, after which I would be eligible to sit the bar.

I don't know what the requirements would be in any other state. However, I would strongly urge anyone who wants confirmation of their eligibility to obtain an opinion from the state board of examiners.

Hi CAM42,

Your inputs were really helpful! I am glad that you followed up after so many years to let us know the response you received from the NY Bar Association. I am just completing my 2-yr LLB from the University of Aberdeen and will be very soon applying for LL.M.s in the US. Now that I know from your experience that an LL.M. would cure the the substantive and durational maladies of the 2 yr Scots LLB, I am more confident about my plans to transition to the US.

I do have one more curious inquiry. Did you end up actually taking the bar and moving back to the US? If so, how difficult was it attaining employment as an attorney? I'd be interested to know about your experiences, post the NY bar.

Thanks again and hope to hear from you!

A graduate of 2005 from my 2 Year LLB course finished an LLM at Cornell and passed the ny bar. She's been an associate since then at an international law firm based in NYC.

A graduate of 2005 from my 2 Year LLB course finished an LLM at Cornell and passed the ny bar. She's been an associate since then at an international law firm based in NYC.

"Prospective applicants should note that subdivision (b)(1)(ii) does not permit use of the "program of study at a U.S. law school" to cure both durational and substantive deficiencies"

From my understanding, if your degree has BOTH durational AND substantive deficiencies, a LLM will not cure it.

But if your degree has ONE of the deficiencies, either durational or substantive, then a LLM can cure this problem:
"....to cure EITHER a durational OR substantive deficiency by successfully completing further study at an approved law school in the United States."

And I think the best way to confirm it is to have your credentials evaluated by the New York Bar Office.

@AW thanks so much for your help!

On the webside of NY bar office, it seems to require the certificate only if the official transcript does not clearly state the degree awarded.

Does it mean that the degree certificate is not required as long as the transcript is clear enough?

you mean get it evaluated prior to the commencement of LLM?