Majority of the people who actually read through this post will have a mixed agenda about which route to go. It is safe to state that the people who intend to go to the US to be practicing lawyers are being advised by a friend. Their friend might have advised them on the process. Nevertheless, there are gaps in their friend's story.

It seems there is no silver bullet in successfully undergoing this route. At the end of the day, you need connections or references in order to land employment in the US. Majority of you will never comprehend how the US works. Ironically, people who go to the US presuming to practice law are under the impression that they are exceptional.

Dear Canadian citizen,

The New York eligibility rules for foreign educated prospective candidates are available at http://www.nybarexam.org/Rules/Rules.htm#520.6

The California eligibility rules for foreign educated prospective candidates that are not attorneys are located at http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Education/LegalEducation/ForeignEducation.aspx

If a foreign attorney seeks Cal Bar eligibility then it is possible to forgo the need for a further US legal education (such as an LLM). http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=MK-p_BBvcAE%3d&tabid=265

Moreover, the foreign attorney may seek membership to the Cal Bar as a "Foreign Legal Consultant", granting the ability to consult in California on the law of the jurisdiction of attorney's license (by example, Canada or the United Kingdom) http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Requirements/ForeignLegalConsultantsFLC.aspx

If it is simply a bar license in the US for CV enhancement elsewhere, and you are going to undertake US legal education anyway (such as an LLM for foreign law graduates) then you may want to consider the path of least resistance in terms of the Bar exam itself - Washington DC. DC's Bar exam score requirement is less than both California and New York.

Several schools offer online LLMs for foreign lawyers now looking toward the DC Bar eligibility, and I suspect many will be offering such by the time you graduate from your law program in Scotland. Washington University (in St Louis), Florida Coastal, John Marshall (Atlanta campus) come to mind, but probably there are others already operating.

Hope you find this information helpful in your search.

I am of the understanding that if you are from a common law country like India, Canada, Australia, there is no need for you to have a LL.M.Degree from the U.S. You can appear for the New York State bar after your credentials are validated by the New York Board of Law examiners.

I am of the understanding that if you are from a common law country like India, Canada, Australia, there is no need for you to have a LL.M.Degree from the U.S. You can appear for the New York State bar after your credentials are validated by the New York Board of Law examiners.

That is OK mAV09. There is no need for you to belittle or ridicule. There is more polite way to reply.

Hi.
I am a Brazilian lawyer, affiliated with the Bar and in good standing in my home country. I intent to take the California Bar exam.
My question is: once I pass the exam, and become licensed in CA, is there a way of practicing law in Florida?
Can I sit for the bar in FL (having passed CA bar but not having the JD?)
Can I only practice Immigration without a state license in FL? What if I want to be a Real Estate or Civil lawyer in FL, do I have to go back to school, even having been admitted in CA?
Thank you in advance.

Hello
I am a Nicaraguan lawyer.

My question is:

Is there a way of practicing law in Florida or Louisiana?

How can I practice Immigration without a state license in FL or Louisiana?

What if I want to be a Real Estate or Civil lawyer in FL or Louisiana.
Do I have to go back to school?

Thank you.

Dear All,

I would really appreciate if you could give me some guidance regarding the following.

I am a Hungarian lawyer, I graduated in 2011, currently working as a trainee (as there is a mandatory three year training period in Hungary before one becomes eligible to take the Hungarian bar exam).

I have worked for a British Magic Circle law firm's (actually one of the best and most acclaimed firms in the world) Hungarian office since my graduation. I used to work for the same firm as an intern during my university studies. I have participated in M&A and other corporate law, cross-border finance and project finance transactions and I also have some telecom law experience. I can manage small transactions on my own. Over 90% of my work is in English, I have full professional proficiency. I have attended several internal trainings and I am familiar with the practices of international firms. I am used to long hours and all-nighters.

I am thinking about taking the California bar exam. Since I do not have the time and financial resources to pursue a US LLM, California is my only option to get qualified in the United States.

Taking into account the above, what are my chances of finding an attorney position at a decent Californian law firm? I have no illusions about the US job market, however, I am curious whether the Californian qualification, work experience acquired at a top tier firm and international exposure would improve my chances of having a job in California. Ideally, I would practice in the field of finance/banking as it is highly standardised and uniform all over the world.

Thank you all for your answers.

The Texas bar exam allows foreign lawyers to write the bar:there is no pre qualification process like NY or California. You have to fill the bar exam application and 1 important requirement is :

" you should have been licensed for atleast 5 -yrs out of the last 7 yrs ( if you do not have an LLM from US)

I applied to qualify and the procedure is long.. you need to get letter from your bar council, university, employers. The bar examiners write to all of them to verify each information you provide".

anyone here studying for the bar exam, i got some materials to share for a fee. email nymex17@gmail.com

I am a peruvian lawyer that recently passed the NY Bar after three attempts. Facts: In any state of United Stated the only way to work in US in law is after getting admitted to the bar. As a foreign lawyer the only way to do it is to taking the bar only in NY and CA getting an approved by the ABA Llm Program that meets the new requirements. After finishing the LLM and getting your degree aprox 1 year full time or 2 part time you need to do tons of paperwork to get your documents from your country approved by the bar association. After fee months and once getting approval ypu register to sit to the Bar and have to study super hard almost 20 hours a day ( no kidding!) taking a Bar Preparation Course that cost around $2,500 in order to study for the bar. Only 30% of foreign lawyers pass the bar exam in NY. After passing is going to take you months to do the extenuous paperwork to be officially admitted you have to provide affodavits from your jobs in your country translated and notarized. After months then you have a sworn ceremony get admitted and good luck finding a job competing with the 9,000 other thousand attorneys from US schools looking in the same market than you and speaking and writing better than you.

DaisyLiu,
I am an attorney with LLM from India and 5 years work experience and settled in Dallas now. I am need to know if I am eligible to take Texas bar Exam.

Hello everyone,

I'm french, admitted to the bar in France (even though i've never been sworn in...), currently completing a LLM degree in NY.
I'd like to sit the California bar. So what are the requirements to sit it? Is it like in NY, you have to fulfill precise courses and credits?

If you can answer me, I'd love a link to the relevant rule!
Thank you for your help!

Margot

Hi all, although this is an old post. I thought to just give it a shot :-) Are there any foreign educated attorneys here from a Civil law country, studying to take the California Bar? It would be nice to study together. Studying for this exam is such an isolating experience. I don't know anyone personally who is in the same position (foreign attorney studying for the bar) at this time. I work full time, I'm married and I'm a mom. But I'm very disciplined and I want to study hard to pass this exam on the first try. You can send me a private message or post here and I'll contact you soon. Thank you.

foreign attys can sit for the CA bar. You can actually self study given the right amount of resources. You can buy books online. I got lecture mp3 of all topics I will share for little fee.

I have passed the CA bar, without doing JD from USA. I have books and notes I studied from.

You can write me at 2525gautam[at]gmail.com" if you want to buy those.

Thank you for your responses. I am doing self study, however the question is which materials are best to use if you do not have a JD from U.S. and you do have a Civil law background? I have the barbri outlines and mbe practice books. I also have PMBR lecture cds and the Tim Tyler book "How to write essays for the bar exam". What books are helpful for memorizing the law and writing essays? Are the bar prep courses like barbri essential for passing the bar? Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi Dutch Attorney,

I am a Civil law trained attorney (including 3 years at UvA). The best Bar prep product that I have reviewed that applies a Civil Code framework to the Common Law is Bar Secrets (www.barsecrets.com). If I was preparing for the California Bar, then I would start with it to provide the structural framework for the mass of information. But I would not end my studies there!

I would also buy a multiple choice online test bank for the multistate bar examination (MBE) and work through 2,000 to 3,000 questions (enough until my speed at answering was sufficient to pass).

And because I am slower than most folks and thus need to over-prepare before knowledge sinks in, I would spend the extra dollars to buy a recent copy of the voluminous books from a national brand that cover the Bar subjects.

succes ...

Professor Byrnes, you are promoting barsecrets since 2008 on this forum: http://www.llm-guide.com/boardsearch/q/Barsecrets+

Do you get paid for that or is it your own business?

@ Professor Byrnes , I am also interested in your response to Aruns question