Hi all, not sure if I'm posting this in the correct place, but hopefully somebody can inform me. I am currently half way through studying for a degree in law (LLB) in the England, but I would like to go on to practice in California. Now to practice over here, upon completion of our degree we must complete the legal practice course (LPC) but as far as I am aware, this is specific to our country. I know that to practice in California I must complete the Californian Bar exam, but what i want to know is, is said exam taken of your own accord or through a Californian law school, and how much, if any, additional schooling is required in California? Technically, is the California Bar exam the equivalent to our Legal Practice Course?

No, the LPC is by no means an equivalent to the LPC. as you rightly stated the LPC is a vocational course, whereas the bar is exam is just that AN EXAM, which every law graduate in the United States is required to take.

If you want to practice in California, i suggest you get qualified in the UK prior to taking the CA bar exam. CA now requires that foreign law graduates who are not qualified to practice law in their home country complete an equivalent of two years undergrad, and 4 years legal education. Additionally, the LLM might assist in obtaining the requisite 4 years legal education in addition to your LLB, however you are required to take 12 units in courses tested on the bar exam, as well as a professional responsibility course.!!!

An alternate route is to take and pass the New York Bar exam, after which you will become eligible to take the CA Bar. You should nonetheless conduct your own research.

Thanks for the info, I will look further into it.

Vonye is correct. The best way to get licensed as an attorney in California for foreign law school graduates is apply for admission as an attorney applicant. It does not matter where you are an attorney. California allows attorney applicants to take the bar examination regardless of the applicant's legal education. If you pass the bar exam, the professional responsibility exam (a separate legal ethics exam) and pass the moral character evaluation, you will be a California attorney. Here is the link for further info.

http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf

To prepare adequately for the California bar exam, you should take 2 months off work and take a bar review course. Most bar review courses cost around 3 or 4 thousand dollars. The bar review courses usually start 2 months before the scheduled bar exam, which is given in February and July of each year. Be advised that licensure as a California attorney does not give the foreign applicant the legal right to work in the United States.