Hello everyone.

I have completed the LLB and want to move to the USA and practise law. I know of the barbri/CLT course for california and new york and that LLB grads may be eligible to sit those bar exams. However, as here, i am sure that competition is tough in terms of gaining employment, particularly where this is no vocational training scheme like the BVC to prepare you for practice. My question really is, what are the employment prospects like for UK LLB grads who pass a USA bar exam? After all whats the point in the bar exam if you can't find any work afterwards?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks.

I've known some non-US legal grads that have tried, and managed to find work in NY, but as you rightly point out, the market is tough. That being said, I'm sure you can find *something, but you need to ask yourself what kind of legal work you want to do and what your long term plans are.

Criminal and family law work, for example, wouldn't cross over very well if/when you come back to the UK. Ask yourself if you are willing to work as a paralegal for awhile to gain experience.

You also might want to consider doing an LLM course in NY or CA (instead of the CLT course), as it will give you access to your school's career services office and give you a year 'on the ground' to make connections and search for work. It also might give potential employers more confidence about your skills and knowledge about US law.

As I'm sure you know, you should also keep in mind the fact that you will be limited to practicing in NY or CA (whichever state you pick or both, should you take both exams), but that will be about it. Texas, the jurisdiction that I'm qualified in, for example wouldn't allow you to sit for their bar exam.

Also, don't forget that you could always 'hang out your shingle'! You would be an attorney after all!!

Jordan S Hatcher (J.D. LL.M)
Distance Learning
School of Law
The University of Edinburgh
www.law.ed.ac.uk/distancelearning/

Thank you so much for replying to my post. You have pointed out some things to think about. I have heard that once eligible to practice states such as NY, other states allow you to 'waiver in' so that (a) you are eligible then to take the alternative states bar exam, or (b) practice in the alternative state.

Also I am curious as to how USA J.D student to lawyer works. My understanding is that US students study undergrad for 3 years in any discipline then do 3 years post grad on the JD then take a bar review course (typically 1-6 months in length). If this is so, is it plausible to study for the bar independently rather than through a course such as CLT and then sit the exam with a reasonable chance of success?

Since there is no equivalent of the BVC in the USA (or is there?), lawyers dont get any advocacy, drafting or opinion writing training, is it the case that lawyers in the USA work more on the basis of on the job training? Or are USA lawyers expected to have some sort of training if they expect any shot at a job in a law firm?

I would like to practise in the areas of crime and human rights and such other traditional areas. As competition is stiff what can I do to increase my job prospects i.e. what are the US law firms looking for?

USA lawyers are employed and not self employed, am I correct in this statement?

Moreover, the thought crossed my mind of doing an LLM in the USA, however I have heard that funding the post grad would be extremely difficult particularly considering that fees together with cost of living can be anywhere from $40-65,000. If you know of any way in which an LLB graduate from the UK can obtain funding for post grads in the USA please let me know because I think your idea is fantastic and will give me opportunity to do some ground work.

If you could take the time to answer or give me any additional information on this post I would be very grateful or if you could simply direct me to helpful sources of information.

I hope to hear from you soon.

US students do a 4 yr undergrad followed by a 3 yr JD at law school. Students spend their first and second summer (3-4 mths each summer) doing internships in firms, government, legal aid etc. We graduate circa April/May of our final yr, and sit the bar exam in July, studying (via a course or self study) during the 2/3 mth interim. Results are posted anywhere between Sept and Nov depending on the state. Most of us start work straight after sitting the exam, and hope that we have passed come time for results. Most large firms allow failers to stay employed provided they pass the second time.

I am a UK student who did the LLM and then stayed in school an extra 2 yrs to get the JD. Graduated in April, and passed the July bar via self study - no bar bri. I was also able to pass CAL first time w/out bar bri or a course - i just purchased what's called the conviser mini review book and memorized everything in it.

As in the UK, and presumably many countries, lawyers here are employed and self-employed.

I have never heard of anyone getting a job in the US without at least an LLM, and even that is difficult. Of course, I'm not including overseas lawyers who transfer within their firms to NY and then take the bar on the side. The only others I can imagine would be eg experienced chinese or korean speaking lawyers who have a few yrs international finance experience in large cities like seol shanghai.