Hey Everyone,

I am a Canadian law student who will be completing her LLB inn April, 2006. I am interested in taking the California bar exam (and subsequently practicing in California) but have a few questions about the options available to me. From my understanding, I could take the California bar exam after:

1) Completing an LLM at an ABA approved university in the United States; or

2) After successfully taking the bar exam in another state and becoming a member of the bar there (in which case I would take the NY bar exam because Canadians with an LLB are permitted to do so with no further schooling); or

3) After becoming a member of the bar in Canada and having practiced in Canada (which would entail "articling," or practicing for one year after completing an LLB)

I'm not sure if my understanding of these options is accurate. If anyone has experience in this area and could provide clarification, that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

So far as I understand, Choice 1) does not make sense in California. Without any completion of LL.M., California Bar can accept application from anyone who is an admitted and qualified lawyer either in common law countries including US states or in civil law countries. Provided however, a lawyer from civil law countries has to take a proper petition to take California Bar exam. On the other hand, a lawyer from common law countries may skip some procedural requirements.

Depending on the extent of your Canadian legal education, I am not sure you need an American LL.M to qualify to take the Cal Bar exam. I would suggest that you check the Cal Bar website at www.calbar.org to see if your legal education qualifies you to take the bar. That being said, a general LL.M at a California law school consisting of classes on subjects tested on the bar exam would probably help you pass the exam and get a job.