I am from England and have a LLB and LLM from the UK. If I was to take the New York bar exam and able to work in nyc, would I then be able to take the qlts and be a qualified solicitor and work in the UK? Or do I have to take the LPC when I come back? Thank you!

In theory, a UK qualifying LLB degree is sufficient to take the NY bar exam, provided you’ve taken the right modules. The LLM is irrelevant. The NY bar exam is tough and it takes a little time to get permission from the NY Board of Legal Examiners to take it, but the process is free. Google my name for a walk through on the process.

You can work here if you have a visa, if not there might be arbitration opportunities available in offshore hotspots like Dubai, Hong Kong, etc. The QLTS has no work requirement so theoretically you can pass the NY bar, get sworn in and then start sitting the QLTS exams. Actually, I think you can take the QLTS MCT right now without qualification at all.

Ok - As for the QLTS, yes this is an option. I’ve been in the process of doing this myself, but have been procrastinating for the last two years because the Part 2 OSCE is so goddamn expensive. You won’t need to take the LPC, but if you do finish the LPC you’re exempt from the Part 1 MCT which is insanely easy frankly. 

However, the future of the QLTS is somewhat suspect right now on account of the new SQE and the abolition of the LPC. I’ve heard that the QLTS will be phased out totally by 2024, and that the MCT will be end before that, putting a time limit on those of us already working on the scheme. 

Or maybe they’ll scrap this ill-conceived SQE.

I am from England and have a LLB and LLM from the UK. If I was to take the New York bar exam and able to work in nyc, would I then be able to take the qlts and be a qualified solicitor and work in the UK? Or do I have to take the LPC when I come back? Thank you!