Hi. I'm a Latin lawyer thinking about qualifying for the NY bar... as reputation isn't my main objective (to some extent at least as this would be my second LLM), which schools in top 30 (according to the US new ranking) do you guys reckon to be easier to get into?

US news ranking: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/rankings

Why not sit the NY bar directly instead of doing a second LLM?

I guess any school outside of the top 10 and and Duke and Cornell, don't require a hyper competitive application.
But hard to say...

My first LLM was in the UK...

Thanks for the reply!!!

I'm pretty sure you can sit the NY Bar with a UK LLM. No harm to check it out.

I'll have another look, but last time I checked it wasn't enough to qualify for the NY bar... especially 'cause most of my modules were in public international law... so kindda hard to make that meet the requirements of the NY bar... but I'll have another look anyway. Thanks.

Consider California - many foreign attorneys are not required to obtain further legal education. By example, I know three Brazilian attorney colleagues who have not been required to do so, as well as a South African advocate, and Italian attorney.

You should contact the Bar directly about this.

You may find a Bar prep program better suited for your needs, like BarSecrets.com or Pieper combined with Micromash (at least I have seen success with that for other Civil law attorneys).

Thanks!!! I'll have a look!!!

The California State Bar website has changed - new look, new format. But I found for you a link: http://www.calbarxap.com/applications/CalBar/info/bar_exam.html#vs

Copying a relevant part:
Attorney Applicants
A first time attorney applicant establishes eligibility to take the General Bar Examination if he or she is admitted to practice law in any United States or foreign jurisdiction, and is in good standing. He/She must submit proof of admission to the Los Angeles Office of Admissions. See deadlines.

Attorney applicants admitted to practice law in any United States jurisdiction, possession, territory, or dependency the United States hereafter acquires may take the Attorneys' Examination provided that he or she has been an active member in good standing for at least four years immediately preceding the first day of the administration of the California Bar Examination for which the applicant applied. He/She must submit proof of admission to the Los Angeles Office of Admissions. See deadlines.