Hi to everybody

I have a Master Degree in Law from the University of Zurich. I will also have the LLM from the same University next June. In Switzerland I am eligible to take the bar. I also have a Certificate in Compliance Management from a Finance and Management School in Switzerland.

Does anybody know if I am eligible to take the bar exam in NY or any other state in the US? UK?

The rules for the admission for the NY bar exam are not clear at all.

By the way. Switzerland law is a mixture between codified and case law like in Louisiana.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Chris

Chris, I'm not familar with the UK system. As per US I don't think you should have any problem with NY. I would suggest you send your transcripts to the Board of Law Examiners for evaluation asap based on your first LLM.

They alone will have the last word.

As per eligibility in other States. The comprehensive list can be found here. http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/ compguide2005.html ~~~~~
Particular reference:
*http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/ chart10.pdf

Each State has it's own set of rules. So make sure you conduct your own research properly. Call them if you have to.

A backdrop on how the education thingy works [In a midwest state, not NY] is the explaination given to me by a staff (at the Board of law examiners office). A typical law (JD) student has a minimum of 7 years of education. 4 years (undergrad) & 3 years of legal education (J.D~full time). I don't know if this helps or hurts your case. But I did point out to the staff, that this reasoning was faulty, because the education system differs from Country to Country and to use this scale for [all] bar applicants would be against the rules of natural justice.

Print out the above papers. You should be able to eliminate those States that you are ineligible easily.
1. You aren't admitted in Switzerland [yet] so you don't meet the 'practiced actively and substantially..... '
2. You aren't 'legally trained in [undiluted] English common law'..... The ABA refers to the English common law not codified/case law.

Go from the left to the right. Eliminate all the 'NOs' first etc. Then read the notes below .....I don't think the Certificate you've acquired is related to this process.

Just my thots!