Hello guys,

I am confused by the statement of "Advance Evaluation of Eligibility" from the following link.

http://www.nybarexam.org/foreign/foreignlegaleducation.htm

It seems that those who are educated outside the U.S. and are going to take the NY Bar exam in July 2012 are required to file a request for the "Advance evaluation of eligibility" before April, 2011. However, it is very likely that many of those will not have enrolled in any LL.M. program yet, let alone having obtained a LL.M. degree by this April.

Maybe my understanding is wrong but at this time I am very confused by the statement. Is there anyone who knows about this issue? Many of you are going to take the NY bar exam in July, 2012, aren't you?

this is very interessting. I hope someone can explain this. And yes, I would like to take the bar exam.

it's really a very serious issue. all of us should take it into consideration in advance.

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Does anyone know how we can get (c)(2) and (d)?

(c) Proof of fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in the foreign country.

(1) If you are admitted to practice law in a foreign country, attach a copy of your admission certificate, OR

(2) If you are not admitted to practice law in a foreign country, submit proof of the educational requirements for admission to practice law in your country and proof that you have fulfilled these requirements.

(d) Accreditation. Submit a written statement from the competent accrediting agency of your foreign government that the law school or schools you attended were recognized by them as qualified and approved throughout your period of study.

I guess a statement from the Bar Association from your own country should be fine...

DutchLLMHopeful:

Thank you so much for sharing your admission letter from Fordham.

I created an user account for the Advance Evaluation. And I found that I am required to add an "U.S. law school" name and course (LLM) that I am CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN or HAVE COMPLETED to the required form.

I really have no idea what they are thinking about if they really want those scheduled to enroll in LLM program in August or September of 2011 to clarify everything that has not happened yet by this April.

At worst, they do not want us to take the Bar Exam right after graduation. So we have to wait for one year...

DutchLLMHopeful:

Thank you so much for sharing your admission letter from Fordham.

I created an user account for the Advance Evaluation. And I found that I am required to add an "U.S. law school" name and course (LLM) that I am CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN or HAVE COMPLETED to the required form.

I really have no idea what they are thinking about if they really want those scheduled to enroll in LLM program in August or September of 2011 to clarify everything that has not happened yet by this April.

At worst, they do not want us to take the Bar Exam right after graduation. So we have to wait for one year...

I have read all the guidelines. There are some which are rather strange.

First of all, it is said in page 17 of the document as follows:

New York: Applicant must complete period of law study equivalent in duration and substance to that specified in New York rules in law school recognized by competent accrediting agency of the government of such foreign country. All applicants must have their transcripts evaluated by the Board of Law Examiners to determine if further study is required in the form of a 20-credit program at an approved law school in the U.S., including basic courses in American law.

http://www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/mediafiles/downloads/Comp_Guide/2011_CompGuide.pdf

Secondly, the process is described as follows:

Most students (all civil law and some common-law trained) submitting the grequest for evaluationh receive an email message that says gBased on a review of your foreign law school transcripts we have determined that your foreign law school study does not satisfy both the substantive and durational equivalency requirements of Section 520.6 of the Rules of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York.h Then, it says gHowever, you may cure that deficiency and qualify to sit for the bar examination upon presentation of proof of successful completion of a program of study 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.h

What does the letter mean? It means that if you complete the LL.M. at Georgetown Law before sitting for the exam, you are eligible for the exam under the following conditions: You must have 20 gprofessional lawh credits (non-law courses, & graduate independent research DO NOT count in the 20 gprofessional lawh credits for the bar)

http://www.law.georgetown.edu/international/EligibilityandApplication.htm

My conclusion is that the "Advance Evalution of Eligibility" is only intended for evaluating "duration and substance" of foreign legal education.

Anyway, it seems to be sure for those educated in civil law countries to take action immediately.

Any different opinions or interpretations?

I think it's still the same process except we have to file these documents before April 2011. It's annoying, but I don't see anything different from the previous guidelines regarding completion or not of the 20 credits. If you complete your LLM before july 2012, you will be able to accept your conditional offer to sit the bar in July 2012.

Hey Guys!

In relation to all the posts I have read, my advice to you, if you have been educated outside the US, like I have, get your eligibility sent off before this summer and you should be fine! You need:

Your Undergraduate (LL.B) Law school to send the NY Bar Examiners a letter to satisfy that you completed a 3 year FULL TIME law degree

Transcript (sent by your law school)

Degree Certificate (sent by your law school)

Make sure you put your BOLE ID on all correspondence and also ask your law school to do the same!

When is everyone thinking of sitting the NY Bar? What Bar Review Courses are you guys taking?

Also

WHY does everyone seem to think that a US LL.M is required for admission to the Bar in New York if one has been educated outside the US?

a US LL.M is only needed if you have a NON-LAW DEGREE!

Otherwise, sit for the NY Bar Exam! =)

To sit the NY bar exam with foreign education, you need to do a LLM unless you come from a common law country and you are admitted to the bar in your country.

For this evaluation, do we need to submit online application and all supporting documents before April 1? Or we can submit by the end of April?

And what about the California Bar ? Same thing for them, or still more "open" ?

Today I called a government official (competent accrediting agency) in my country that issues "(d) Accreditation". The clerk told me that many applicants have already started requesting the document for this "Advance Evaluation". My suggestion is: just do it as quickly as possible no matter the due date is either April 1 or April 30.

And yes, it seems that we have to do something online at first.

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:)