Hi,

I am an Italian lawyer with a Canadian LLM degree. Could anyone tell me  what is the process to qualify as a lawyer in the U.S.and whether or not the Canadian LLM degree is considered in the U.S. evaluation system? I am thinking of different options and what is my best choice right now......to continue studying in U.S or Canada to qualify myself as a lawyer or to go back and practice law in my country.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

Best regards.

If you are a member of the Italian Bar then consider the California Bar because you may be eligible without any further education to sit for it.

First of all I really appreciate your help. Your post is the first one that I have received so far. Yes, I am a member of the Italian Bar and I have just finished my LLm program at the University of Toronto. Under the Ontario regulation, I should study other 2 years and then pass the Bar exam. This is very frustating! In California it seems much easier. However, assuming that I have already passed the Ca Bar exam, my question is what is the job market there for a foreigner lawyer whose the first language is not English?
Thank you again

Apologies but for some reason the system just alerted me to your response....

The legal job market is one of the most fragmented because the legal service industry, by expenditure and by fees earned, is extremely fragmented (most students do not realize this point). The big firms account for only 15% of the market. The less than 20, and even more so, less than 10 lawyer firms makes up the difference. Review the employment information from the ABA and NALP, and do your own Internet search on the "legal service market" and you'll see what I mean.

The single most important factor for employment is networking. Generally speaking, albiet I know of several exceptions, most localized business and legal employment goes to local school graduates.

So where you want to live and work should influence where you want to go to school. Thus, naturally, you should research how many employment opportunities a local market has for a graduate.

My quick NALP and Internet research produced the following stats: three California cities are in the top ten legal markets for amount of jobs and legal fee expenditure: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego.

The Italian-USA Chamber of Commerce, and California Italian Consulate should be able to assist you in identifying Italian companies operating in California - which may provide you a set of opportunities.

I appreciate your helpful information about the job market in California. You are right networking is a key factor for employment. I already realized that when I was in Italy and now in Canada it is the same. Right now, I am not sure where I want to live and honestly I am really concerning whether or not I want to study more years. I am sure that even if went to California I would have to study very hard to pass the Bar exam -and I am not even talking about the difficulties of studyng in another language. You know I have just finished my master here in Canada and I am still in the process of evaluating all options in front of me....even to go back to Italy. Plus I don't see in Toronto so many job opportunities for a foreigner lawyer with a master degree. It is a very hard decision!
Thank you again for your help

I mentioned two posts above that if you are a member of the Bar (In Italy or Canada), that for the State of California you may not require any education.

I have several friends and colleagues who are members of foreign country Bars who upon application for eligibility to sit the Cal Bar were granted it. Doesn't hurt to apply for such for yourself. So in your case, education may not be required.

Employment opportunities for Toronto - the NALP and ABA data does not cover Canada at this time. However, the Canadian Bar should have such data, as well as your career services officers. Your career service office, if your school is admitting foreign students, should be a member of all the Chambers and thus you can leverage its membership to network within (at least that is a very basic thing that Career Service offices should do - but you'll need to check whether yours actually supports its graduates in such networking).

I was in Toronto a few weeks ago discussing its employment climate and it appeared to be doing quite well regarding international services, considering the USA meltdown. Common-sense it must be the area of the most international firms and opportunities in Canada, I assume followed by Vancouver and Quebec. Anyway, rather than my speculation, your career service counselors should be able to guide you through these localised opportunities.