Hi

I am a foreign attorney. Just passed the california bar exam. I am currently in US but don't have work visa. Though it will take another 6-8 months for me to get license, I just wanted to know what are the options available in terms of working pro-bono in some other state. I am currently in Minnesota.

One more thing I wanted to know, after getting license from California bar, Can I do job or practice in other states in federal law like Immigration law without taking bar exam of that state.

Thanks!

If you have passed the Bar exam, why is it going to take you 6-8 months for you to get license?

I still have to take MPRE and my Moral character determination is pending.

If you have not had your license yet, I would stay put. Unauthorized practice is felony.

If you have not had your license yet, I would stay put. Unauthorized practice is felony.

Pro bono is the practice of law, just not for money.

Can I ask where you are from? Do you have an LLM in the US? I am an Australian and wanted to sit the California Bar, but they said I had to have an LLM in US law units first. However they said that I can sit the NY Bar without a US LLM.

What was your experience?

BTW I wouldn't practice without your licence, even pro-bono, it's only 8 months. If you're wondering just ask the Admissions Board what the law is.

I understand you can work in other states as far as you do not present yourself as a "lawyer". For example, I know many people who work in New York or Miami in law firms as "foreign specialist" without the bar and that is not considered illegal..... Additional, if you work in house you do not need the bar as far you do not present yourself as "local lawyer"......even I have seen many business cards that mention...Foreign specialist...not addmited to practice law.....in somehow these people are working in house or in law firms stating clearly that they are not admitted ...so it is not felony...

"Foreign Specialists" are allowed in some states, but that means you can only advise on your country's law, not U.S. law. Also, many states have requirements to qualify as a foreign specialist as well, including California, so you should be careful about coming to the U.S. and advising on any type of law, without checking to see if there is a formal process you need to go through. For California's requirements for a foreign specialist, which they call a "Foreign Legal Consultant," I would suggest looking at this website: http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Requirements/ForeignLegalConsultantsFLC.aspx. Unless, you officially become a foreign legal consultant, I would seriously suggest refraining from anything that could even possibly be misconstrued as acting like a lawyer because it could seriously affect you ability to be admitted to the bar in a U.S. jurisdiction in the future.

Can I ask where you are from? Do you have an LLM in the US? I am an Australian and wanted to sit the California Bar, but they said I had to have an LLM in US law units first. However they said that I can sit the NY Bar without a US LLM.

What was your experience?

BTW I wouldn't practice without your licence, even pro-bono, it's only 8 months. If you're wondering just ask the Admissions Board what the law is.

JaneJane,

I'm presuming you have an Australian law degree - it comes under the ambit of an English common law jurisdiction, which means you do not need an LLM to take the NY Bar exam.

Im not so sure about what they told you, re CA bar exam, but if you are qualified to practice in Australia as a lawyer - you should be able to sit for the California Bar Exam as a foreign attorney.

Hi

I am a foreign attorney. Just passed the california bar exam. I am currently in US but don't have work visa. Though it will take another 6-8 months for me to get license, I just wanted to know what are the options available in terms of working pro-bono in some other state. I am currently in Minnesota.

One more thing I wanted to know, after getting license from California bar, Can I do job or practice in other states in federal law like Immigration law without taking bar exam of that state.

Thanks!

JaneJane,

I'm presuming you have an Australian law degree - it comes under the ambit of an English common law jurisdiction, which means you do not need an LLM to take the NY Bar exam.

Im not so sure about what they told you, re CA bar exam, but if you are qualified to practice in Australia as a lawyer - you should be able to sit for the California Bar Exam as a foreign attorney.