Hello, I have a JD and am licensed to practice in Texas. In addition, I have three years experience as a prosecutor and some civil litigation. Does anyone have any information on obtaining a law license in the UK or Ireland for an American lawyer? Would I have to start over if I moved? Does an American license lend any weight with the UK or Irish bars? Any help is appreciated.

JC

I think you may have to pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT).

The Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) is a conversion exam which enables foreign lawyers to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales.

jctex:

just look up www.qltt.com.

it costs about $3,500 and takes about 50-100 hrs of independent study. they send you the books and you can sit the exam in LA, NY, Chicago etc. very straightfoward. all you need is 2 yrs of post-admission experience. the exam is 3 days long (but just 3 hrs/day) and is open book, quite easy really.

the hard part is finding a job in the UK once you qualify. i am a UK citizen with a UK law degree (who just happened to come to the US to do a JD and now have 5 yrs of litigation experience) and i am having the hardest time finding work back home, much harder than an say an american lawyer with big law firm corporate experience who has never set foot in the UK.

Here's the link to what the Law Society has to say about the QLTT, together with links to authorised providers of the test:-
http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/becomingasolicitor/outsideengandwales/transfertest.law