Can I sit for the bar exam with an LLM from the University of London?

[Edited by khyzr_21 on Sep 20, 2019]

The NY State Bar will not let someone with an external law degree sit for the bar even after a US LLM(residence).

It seems the applicant would have to go back for a JD in order to do this.

Mrasay, would you please cite the source of your information?

khyzr_21, I see your post is from last year, but see below for the sake of preventing misinformation, and maybe this will be relevant to someone else who searches and finds this (as I did):

According to the "Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements 2012" created jointly by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and American Bar Association (found here: http://www.ncbex.org/assets/media_files/Comp-Guide/CompGuide.pdf ), Chart 4 "Eligibility to Take the Bar Examination: Foreign Law School Graduates."

In New York:

Graduates of foreign law schools are eligible for admission;
Additional education at an ABA-approved law school is required;
The will be a determination of educational equivalency for the foreign law degree;
NY does not regularly recognize the legal education received at any particular foreign law school (Which, I believe, is what Mrasay was referring to re: JDs);
Then the specific question, "If a foreign law school graduate obtains an LL.M. or other graduate law degree from an ABA-approved school, is the graduate then eligible to take the bar exam?" is asked, and answered "Yes". (NY is one of the very few states which are marked Yes.)

There are the following details:

"New York - Applicant must complete period of law study equivalent in duration and substance to that specified
in New York rules in law school recognized by competent accrediting agency of the government of
such foreign country. All applicants must have their transcripts evaluated by the Board of Law
Examiners to determine if further study is required
in the form of a qualifying LL.M. degree from an ABA-approved law school in the United States."

Hi
I am in the process of figuring this out for myself and am very confused. I have an LLB (external) degree (3 years duration) from University of london. Also now looking into whether an LLM from ABA approved school would let me sit for the bar in NY. The only option i see is to apply and wait for 6 months to find out whether they would accept the external program. Its very confusing because there is no where it clearly states that an external program + an LLB will be one route that we can take. i wished there was more clear direction for students like us. Have you heard of anyone who has successfully taken BAR in nyc with three year external UOL LLB+ LLM?

well, NYU bar states very clearly that any degree taken via external study, online, independent, or self study is not eligible for sitting the bar.

The point is if the rule is limited to LL.M or extended to any law degree earned in another country, and I think the second interpretation should be allowed.

Hi,I have recently done my simple LLB degree from university of London(external degree) and now wish to appear for the bar exam.I have visited your website but couldn't find something relevant in the most frequently asked questions section.I like you to assist me in what are the requirements and whether I eligible for the bar exam.Replying for a quick response.Thank you

This depends on which state bar you want to practice. In most bar that allows an LLB you would need to take an LLM in order to sit for the bar.

I want to go for the New York Bar Exam so can you let me know what is the criteria for that.