Can somebody explain me, how it works in California/NY with the Bar exam for foreign students?

If I've finished 5 years of Commenius University in Slovakia, plus 2 years of Cambridge University and I have a Diploma in an introduction to english law and the law of the EU, do I need to take any additional year in law school or to attend the preparation course for Bar exame will be enough?Wright know I'm on internship (opractising imm. law) in USA.

Thank you for your response, hope it will solve my dilema :)

Hi Moniqe, this question has been debated ad nauseum on several threads on this board. It is always richardvf who responds "you don't need an LLM" to sit for the California Bar or NY Bar. Just look for the threads, should be easy enough to find.

Thanx, appreciate it :)

I wouldn't trust anyone except the official state bar examiners for accurate information because the rules may have changed from the last post. For California see www.calbar.org - there's probably a link for "Admissions Requirements" which will spell out Foreign Education rules. Ditto for New York - I just don't remember what their website is.

Here is the link outlining the California requirements if you are a licensed foreign lawyer.

http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf

Here is the link outlining the educational requirements for non-attorney foreign applicants wishing to take the California bar exam:

http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/sf_legal-edu-outside-us.pdf

The correct information is that you dont need an LLM for the California Bar. But, as far as I know, for the NY Bar, LLM is required.

Hi everyone,

I am a law graduate from India and I had sent my application to CA bar for conforming eligibility to sit for CA bar eaxm. I received a letter stating that pursuant to polivy effective from July 2007, one year additional study in law school in courses determined by the Bar committee will be required to be taken. Does that mean, that LLM in my area of interest wont do?? I presumed, LLM being one year course should suffice the requirements. Also, they were vague enough to state that the curriculum as regards the courses will be notified in writing once it has been finalised. Can some one throw light on my concerns???

Are you an attorney in India? If so, you shoudn't need to have an LL.M to take the California bar.

Hi Ketki,
I am an attorney in India.

You have mentioned that you are a law graduate from India;

You will NOT need one years legal education in USA, if you are enrolled as an Advocate in India under the Advocates Act. Otherwise you will require one year's legal education.

In other words, if you are an attorney admitted in a jurisdiction outside of USA, then you will not require any further education for Calfornia Bar Exam.

The two situations are different.

In India also there are two types of law degrees (LL.B) Professional and Non-Professional.

The LL.B (Professional) entitles you to get enrolment with the Bar Council as an Advocate under the Advocates Act. The same is not true with LL.B (Non-Professional) degree.

If your have a law degree which entitles you to be admitted into practice by enrolment with a Bar Council, then you should first get yourself enrolled as an ADVOCATE and then apply for California Bar Examination.

The following link contains Instructions for the Application to take the California Bar Examination
:
http://calbar.xap.com/applications/CalBar/info/bar_exam.html#eligibility

Here you will notice eligibility for
Attorney Applicants ; and for
Foreign Educated Applicants

You have probably confused the California Bar office by seeking information for Foreign Educated Applicants

First be clear about your entitlement to be enrolled as an Advocate in India; and then you should take up the matter with the California Bar Exam in either of the two categories:
(a) Attorney Applicants ; or
(b) Foreign Educated Applicants

If you are covered under (a), you will NOT need LL.M or one year's legal education in USA.

Thankyou all for shedding light on this matter. The eligibility rules for the NY bar, on their website, are not to the point. Is a 3 yr full time LLB from the UK sufficient for the NY bar? I have read conflicting answers to various threads....is an LLM required? Sorry for asking this question yet again! Thank you.

Unlike CA Bar exam, one is required to complete 20 credit hours of study in an ABA approved law school for NY Bar exam.