Due to the Canada immigration requirement, I need to stay in canada for 2-3 years. Because my carrer subject is taking New York bar then practice in law, I have to do something when "trapped in the Canadian prison", the best alternative is studying law. Therefore the question is after taking some Canadian LLM courses and obtaining a LLM degree, how hard it is to pass the New York bar exam? By the way, I'm from a civil law coutry, and have got a master degree in law.

I am a Canadian and received my LL.B. from the University of Ottawa. I'm currently working on a war crimes/genocide tribunal abroad. I will be taking the NY Bar at some point next year, so I will try to answer your question. You should know that a Canadian LL.M. will NOT make you eligible to sit for the NY Bar. Only a Canadian LL.B. or ABA approved American J.D. or LL.M. will allow you to do that. Many people from civil law countries start over and take the Canadian LL.B. or American J.D. to practice in the US or Canada. Many were in my class. So, if you want to sit for the NY Bar, you will need to reassess your options.

Don't waste your time with a Canadian LL.M. if the NY Bar is your goal.

Wade, thanks for the advice.
In view of my age(nearly 30), I am not willing to start over from Canadian LLB or American JD, and actually my career plan is to practice law in my own country with an international LLM and NY bar. If I take your advice,
Plan A--there' no need for me to pursue the Canadian LLM, however, going to US and taking US LLM then eligible to sit for the NY bar is a better chioce, right? If so, there is no connection with the Canada Permanent Residence, I might give up immigrating to Canada.
Plan B--Given that I participate in the Canadian LLB when waiting for my Canadian nationality, I will be eligible to sit for Canadian and American bar after 3 years.
Wow, when I can practice in home country, how old I am!It's really a tough chioce!

To give you some hope, I started lawe school at 31 and graduated at 34. There were many older students (much older than me), so its no big deal. You can still practice until you die if you want. That is why law is a great second career. No one says you have to be in your early twenties to be a lawyer.

Assess your goals honestly. If NY Bar is your goal, your position allows for 3 possibilities:

1. Complete an American LL.M from an ABA approved school.

2. Complete an American JD at an ABA approved school, or

3. Complete a Canadian LL.B.

The NY Bar accomplishes 2 things:

1. To practice in NY State

2. An added bonus that looks good if you want to work for the United Nations (HQ in NY) as a Legal Officer.

THAT'S IT!

If you plan to return home to a civil law country to practice law then I'm not sure what the NY Bar accomplishes for you.

I'm going to take it for the latter reason as I am already working with the UN and it will help me get future postings. Since I am already eligible to sit for it, it doesn't cost me much to do it. Otherwise, I would take a pass.

However, in your case, you 3 expensive options and have to consider if it is worth it.

hi wade,

i just recently obtained my llb from the UK (im european ) and thinking of doing an llm in canada. What are the chances of getting an articling position after doing the nca`s? would my nationality be a big disadvantage?

thanx,
elle

Hi Elle,

The NCA route is not easy or quick. That will take you two years for a certificate in order to qualify for the bar and be permitted to article. The NCA exams are only twice per year and the sheer number (likely 10-12 challenge exams) don't permit you to do them all in one year. That is why many NCA students just do two years in a Canadian law school.

Your nationality will not be a disadvantage and is largely irrelevant. You job will be to do well on either your challenge exams or law school grades. That will determine your articling opportunities.

Still, there are far more students than articling positions. Be flexible and go where you have to go (anywhere) and do what you have to do (any type of law). If you do this then you will become a lawyer. However, you are three years away (two years for exams or law school + bar exams + articling), so you have plenty of time to think about articling later.

An LL.M. in Canada is good for academia or specialization purposes only. You need to get your NCA Certificate first in my opinion.

The question is, are you willing to make the time sacrifice? If not, then you have to reassess your goals.