Hello,

I have graduated with an LLB (UK equivelant to the USA JD) and intend on taking the NY bar exam. If i were to pass the NY bar exam or the bar for another jurisdiction, do i have any prospect of becoming employed within the USA in a law firm?

My understanding is that USA law firms prefer JD graduates rather than foriegn educated lawyers. Am i to expect an uphill struggle? Possibly even having to obtain a JD or LLM (which i will find great difficulty in funding)

If i had a good degree from the UK and some practical voluntary legal experience, would this make any difference?

I would appreciate some advice on this matter from anyone who has some idea.

Hi.

I also graduated from an English school (KCL) with an LLB. Circumstances have meant that currently, I live in Texas (temporarily) and want to be qualified in both NY and England. I have done much research into your question. If you are planning on working permanently in the US, there is no question that the JD is the preferred course of study for many employers. That is not to say that LLM's cannot find employment in a place like NY, I have met people who have found employment in NY it is just that it may take more time to find something you like. I think one issue may be the Visa question. Is an employer wanting to go to the trouble of putting you through the visa process. It may be slightly easier if you had Permanent Residence. That also makes studying for the degree easier as well. It is probably harder to find funding without PR, and probably have to secure funding in the UK to cover the costs, which you need to have evidence of in order to get a student visa. The pound is very strong against the dollar right now, but you still need to get Barclays, HSBC etc to give you about 30 grand in loans to study in America. I don't know how willing they are to do that. If you have a stellar academic record, you could try getting a Fulbright scholarship, but these are competitive.

I personally am about to study for the LLM. I have been accepted at Boston University and am waiting on several others to get back to me. I believe that the NY bar requires you to take at least 20 hours of study (Credit hours) with at least two courses in topics that are examined at an ABA approved law school (Rules are on the NY examining board website). An LLM can be tailored to this.

So the question comes down to, how many more years of school do you want to do (and can afford - I spent more on application fees etc then I did on tuition fees at Kings) and where you want to end up permanently. If you want to be in the US for good, get an LSAT guide, study like mad and get yourself onto a JD.

Laters

KJT