Hi, everyone,

I want to sit for NY bar and wish to know my eligiblity. I have an LLB from a UK university (3 years by distance learning) and also an LLM from UoL (External degree).

Some discussions posted in the Board seem to indicate that with this background, I should be eligible on the basis that I have a UK (common law jurisdiciton) 3 year degree, plus the LLM -- altogether 4 year of laws study. However, the latest Bar Admission Requirement Guide 2008 and NY bar site state that they do not allow any "credit for correspondence course". I would interpret that this means they do not recognize my qualification at all, which seems to contradict to the discussions posted here -- possibilty they change the rule??

Would very much appreciate it if anyone could provide some insight and advise any possible remedy (other than purusing a JD and / or a LLM in the US).

Thanks
Kenji

I'm not sure you're interpreting "correspondence course" correctly. You should contact the Board of Law Examiners to clarify your eligibility, but, generally, a foreign law degree is sufficient for New York.

See below, but contact the Board of Law Examiners: http://www.nybarexam.org/
. . .

"520.6 Study of law in foreign country; required legal education.

(a) General. An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to take the New York State bar examination by submitting to the New York State Board of Law Examiners satisfactory proof of the legal education required by this section.

(b) Legal education.

(1) The applicant shall show fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in a country other than the United States by successful completion of a period of law study at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (d) and (e) of section 520.3 of this Part, in a law school or schools each of which, throughout the period of the applicant's study therein, was recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country, or of a political subdivision thereof, as qualified and approved; and

(i) that such other country is one whose jurisprudence is based upon the principles of the English Common Law, and that the program and course of law study successfully completed by the applicant were the substantial equivalent of the legal education provided by an approved law school in the United States; or

(ii) or if applicant does not meet the durational equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section but has at least two years of substantively equivalent education, or if applicant does not meet the substantive equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, that applicant has successfully completed a full-time or part-time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, which includes basic courses in American law, in an approved law school in the United States; or

(2) The applicant shall show admission to practice law in a country other than the United States whose jurisprudence is based upon principals of English Common Law, where admission was based upon a program of study in a law school and/or law office recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country and which is durationally equivalent yet substantively deficient under subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, and that such applicant has successfully completed a full-time or part time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, which includes basic courses in American law, in an approved law school in the United States."

can you tell me if you know something about the meaning of 2 basic course in american law which is required for foreign students
the board says that each school has a list of the courses offered as basic course for the ny bar exam
i ve found a list in gwu but i m still waiting to know if this one is the list the nybar rules speaking about. and I was very surprised today to know that the most of the students did not choose some of those courses believing that patent law or copyright can be qualified as constitutional law

i think that it wouldn't be possible since the rules of nyb are pretty clear