Hi,
I am a lawyer from India seeking some information. I have finished my LLB and intend to travel to USA on an L2 visa which permits me to work in USA. I would want to know whether holding an LLB degree alone would help me fetch a job in USA (eg. para legal job's) or I need to pursue further studies. Any information will be of great help.
Thanks.

That should be fine, as plenty of American college students with no legal education are hired as paralegals prior to law school, so having an undergraduate law degree should be a bonus.

However, you could always try and see if you can study for a paralegal certificate- that is a useful qualification that may open more doors. Whatever you do, though, don't take the NY Bar until you know you have a job after. Being an attorney will kill chances you may have to be hired as a paralegal, and it is very hard to be hired at entry-level lawyer stage.

Thank you so much for the feedback!

What so u mean by "study for a paralegal certificate"? Are these some courses that all Universities offer?

Hi, I am a lawyer from India.

Will doing an LLM increase or decrease my chances of getting para legal jobs? Are the para legal jobs available in plenty in US or are they being outsourced to other countries?

Hi,

Did you get any information on this? My wife is also a LLB graduate from India..She also wants to work here. Could you please provide some information on this?

Thanks and Regards,
Shriraj

hii Janki,

were you able to gather any information ? i am also a lawyer from India and exploring the opportunities in paralegal field.

Hello All,

I am no more in the USA, but as per the information gathered by me, a person with a LLB degree from India can get decent jobs. A small course in law relating to paralegals would help more in understanding the legal system in USA, so its better to do one if you can. These courses are for 3 - 6 months. These courses would depend on the Universities in the locality you stay. All Universities will have them.
You can even apply for a job of paralegal without any further certifications. Just a LLB degree is fine.

Hi All,

I'm a corporate lawyer from India with three yrs of experience. I will be settling down in Chicago post my wedding. Will a paralegal certificate be of any use as far as jobs are concerned? How are paralegal job prospects for Indians? Also, what are the good universities offering paralegal certificates? Online research on this isn't getting me anywhere.

Any information from you guys would help :)


Lavanya

If you can read/write English at a high level and have an average amount of common sense, you can be a paralegal. If you complete a certificate course (there are courses everywhere) you might even get a job in a big firm.

Hi

Whether anyone is working in US corporates with Indian qualification? Is it possible for an Indian qualified lawyer without any further qualification join US corporates.

Yes an Indian LLB can work as a para legal in US,infact you will be more qualified than most US college graduates as you have knowledge of law.An LLM can make you overqualified for a paralegal job and that will render the whole point useless; because LLM track is usually used by attorneys who want to either:
1)Give the bar exam of New York, California:, Maryland, Texas;(9 months LLM plus 12 months OPT and within that time giving the bar) or;
2)Return back to India to a new job or an old job that has been reserved by them before they left;or
3)Pursue PHD in law that is SJD ;either in US or Canada.

Paralegal certifications are available at all type of colleges like Community college,State University or Public.Check the affiliations before enrollment.

The basic factor is, if the person is in the right visa status that is not F1 then they can work full time as a paralegal.

Yes an Indian LLB can work as a para legal in US,infact you will be more qualified than most US college graduates as you have knowledge of law.An LLM can make you overqualified for a paralegal job and that will render the whole point useless; because LLM track is usually used by attorneys who want to either:
1)Give the bar exam of New York, California:, Maryland, Texas;(9 months LLM plus 12 months OPT and within that time giving the bar) or;
2)Return back to India to a new job or an old job that has been reserved by them before they left;or
3)Pursue PHD in law that is SJD ;either in US or Canada.

Paralegal certifications are available at all type of colleges like Community college,State University or Public.Check the affiliations before enrollment.

The basic factor is, if the person is in the right visa status that is not F1 then they can work full time as a paralegal.

A person with Indian LLB most probably with US LLM and no bar qualification can work as a Foreign Legal Consultant in most states.

Hi, Every one... I have earned B.E (Electrical)-2004 ,MBA -2007 and LLB-2016 degree from india. I am planning to do LLM or JD from US. as I explore on web LLM and JD are high cost degrees so If i would complete LLM in US, is it increase chance of getting a job in legal firms ?? or can I get other paralegal jobs in firms with my indian degree ??

Hope for the best & Ready for the worst !

Hi,

Did you get any information on this? My wife is also a LLB graduate from India..She also wants to work here. Could you please provide some information on this?

Thanks and Regards,
Shriraj

Hi All,

Well I got good idea of How a person with LLB degree can work as paralegal in US.
But I have one question. My wife has LLB degree from India and she is right now working as an Associate legal (Legal Advisory) and will more than 3 years of work experience by the time she comes in US next year.

So she will come on my dependent VISA may be H4 VISA or Student dependent as I did my master;s here in US and right now full time employed here by a company and my H1B VISA will be filed in next cycle.

So my question is, how doing doing a paralegal course will allow my wife to work here? it will require some work authorization right? so does this paralegal gives work authorization.
Can anyone throw some light on it.

Shivjeet Deoghare

Hi Shivjeet,

I really need your help as i am also a Law graduate and trying to find information about the paralegal jobs in USA.

Have you been able to find answers to your questions. Kindly share your experience.

Thanks

Hi there. I’m trying to gather information about the same. I’m in a similar situation and I’m trying to help my girlfriend. I think she can come to the US as a F1 student and obtain OPT and then try to work. What if her OPT ends? Are there any alternatives to that? Could you share any other information you know that might help me.

Hi Nithin,

is there information you received regarding the jobs

Once the OPT ends you'll have to try for another visa, most likely an H1B. These are awarded on a lottery system and sponsored by the employer.