Hey all,

Does one have to take up the LLM course in order to write the NY/Cal bar exam? I have been accepted into a few schools in america but I would be goin to singapore to do my llm..
If i eventually want to work in the US, would I have to graduate outta a US school(LLM).. I have a 5 year BA LLB from India.
Kindly help..

Thanks..

No dear cricketer!!!! u dont have to :)...for taking the california bar ...howvever for NY bar yes it requires some credits to be earned in the US schools :)...

U can graduate frm Singapore and then come to US take the CA bar and if u manage to get a job u can wrk in California ...

also try this link for more http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/barexam.htm

haha thanks for the info ben :)

No dear cricketer!!!! u dont have to :)...for taking the california bar ...howvever for NY bar yes it requires some credits to be earned in the US schools :)...

U can graduate frm Singapore and then come to US take the CA bar and if u manage to get a job u can wrk in California ...

also try this link for more http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/barexam.htm

As India is a common law country you would not need to have a US law degree to take the NY Bar.
If you are not from a common law country you need to do a US degree and make sure you take certain papers related to legal practice.
It is not easier to pass the bar exam with an LLM as the subject matter and method of learning is completely different. If you haven't done Evidence before though I strongly advice taking that as part of your LLM to help you in the bar. The rest you can learn easily in the BarBri course.
One could argue that the CA bar is harder than NY (and therefore easier to fail for LLM students) since it involves a 3 day exam rather than a 2 day exam. Check the pass rates for foreigners in each jurisdiction. They are available online.
Hope that helps.

I thought you needed 20 hours at an ABA school to take the NY Bar.

Not if you are from a common law country.

Even if you have not passed the bar in a common law country?

Yes.

yep, fly girl is right.....

llb graduates from the uk, who are not qualified in the uk, can take the the new york bar, by the fact they have received their law degree from a common law jurisdiction.

520.6 Study of law in foreign country; required legal education. (a) General. An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to take the New York State bar examination by submitting to the New York State Board of Law Examiners satisfactory proof of the legal education required by this section.

(b) Legal education.
(1) The applicant shall show fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in a country other than the United States by successful completion of a period of law study at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (d) and (e) of section 520.3 of this Part, in a law school or schools each of which, throughout the period of the applicant's study therein, was recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country, or of a political subdivision thereof, as qualified and approved; and

(i) that such other country is one whose jurisprudence is based upon the principles of the English Common Law, and 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; or

(ii) or if applicant does not meet the durational equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section but has at least two years of substantively equivalent education, or if applicant does not meet the substantive equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, that 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; or

(2) The applicant shall show admission to practice law in a country other than the United States whose jurisprudence is based upon principals of English Common Law, where admission was based upon a program of study in a law school and/or law office recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country and which is durationally equivalent yet substantively deficient under subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, and that such 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.

Just thought I would post the rules up here. They can be found at http://www.nybarexam.org/court.htm

If ya'll thought that you have heard all the weird situations, here is one, you havent'.
I have a LLB in Shariah and Law from IIUI, Pakistan, have a LLM from SMU. I am a south-east european national. I did not sit for the bar in Pakistan but did so in my country which is civil law. My LLM helped me qualify for it. I ran into odds with my gov and had to get political asylum in the US. I could not get proof of anything from my own country.
I want to sit for the NY bar but my problem is:
I just sent both evaluation request and bar-exam application and do not know if I will be permitted to sit for the bar. The way I read the rules for the NY is that they will send the roll number for the people admitted to sit for the bar two weeks before the exam? Any thoughts? Any ideas? Any comfort? Any hopes? Good luck with the forum>

(b)(1)(ii) ... or if applicant does not meet the substantive equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, that 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; or

Thanks for the response. I read that provision and I loved it. My question is will it work? Also I do not know if I should start studying or not, and they indicate that a response will only be mailed a couple of weeks before the exam. That is not fair. Anyone has had a different experience? Thanks again.

here's another question - I have a BA in law from an English university, I took the LPC (not CPE), and am also admitted to practice in the UK ie. a common law jurisdiction.

Does anyone know if I need to carry out the 520.6(b)(2) - 20 hours of credit at an approved law school in the US? And if so, which institutions in NY (NYU?) offer this kind of program?

Would appreciate any advice...

Even with the mere BA in Law from a British University you would have been qualified to take the NY Bar exam. The LPC is of value in England & Wales only ...

By the way and off topic, are you qualified as a solicitor ?

yes, i am qualified as a solicitor. thats really good news, I was worried i would need to complete that extra study. do you mind me asking - how did you know this? I have found it really hard to get confirmation from anyone that the BA will be treated the same as an LLB (without going through the advance evaluation of foreign academiccredentials process).

thanks

The New York Bar requires a "Qualifying Law Degree from a Common Law Jurisdiction". Your BA has been recognised by the Law Society (and would be equally recognised by the Bar Association), so that they have exempted you from the obligation to take the CPE - thus your degree is a Qualifying Law Degree.

And England & Wales is a Common Law Jurisdiction. Therefore you hold a "Qualifying Law Degree from a Common Law Jurisdiction".

I totally agree with your analysis - I am just wondering what proof the bar association might require to show 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;" but I do have the list of 'Qualifying law degrees" from the law society. Maybe this will be enough?

I'm from Singapore. I have a few offers to read Law (at undergraduate level) in England and Australia. I have also applied to some Singapore Law Schools, though I'm not sure if I may be given a place due to tough competition this year.
I would like to know what I should do if I wish to eventually practice Law in the US. Would I be able to practice Law in the US if I graduate from an Australian Law School?
Should I study an LLM in the US? Would that put me in a better position if I have an LLB from an Australian Law School?
Are there any other states which allow foreign lawyers besides CA & NY?
Would appreciate your replies.
Thank you.