Hello,

First of all I introduce myself. I'm a Swiss law student (university of geneva). I work to have my bachelor of law. The university of geneva offers me the possibility afterward to work for different masters of law, but I would like to discover new horizons, new people, other points of view.

I thus would wish to know if the American universities recognize my bachelor. I don't want to do one more time these 3 years but just to continue directly my studies ( master ).
I naturally made the toefl and the sat

However I would wish to know how I must do to enter the American programme. I already have in mind some universities, but I don't know how to enter this system, which is foreign to me.

Could thus you announce me, please, your notices and advices
Thank you in advance
Cordially
A foreign student

I thus would wish to know if the American universities recognize my bachelor.

It is the regular undergraduate degree in my country and i think also in Europe; after that in Europe we can make a master. However in USA i think there isnt bachelor of law, there are bachelor of art or of science ( if i understand all).

In Europe we begin law at undergraduate degree. It's because of this difference, that i think there can be problems to make recognized my bachelor.

You don't think so ?

Hi Rod!

It seems to me that your Bachelor is the first law degree in Switzerland. If this is the case, you are eligible to attend a LLM ( Master of Laws) program in USA. But you should ask yourself if the LLM degree really suits to your career plans. You should bear in mind that you are not allowed to practise law in US only withe the LLM. You have to pass the bar exam before you are allowed to do so. As a foreign student you are allowed to take the bar exam of New York and California. Anyway, the job prospects are really poor for LLM's with bar exam because you have to compete with American J.D.'s which have studied 3 years American LAaw while you have done so only 1 year as LLM. Therefore, they are the first choice in the American Law market- especially at the big law firms. If you want to push your CV and make a good personal experience the LLM is a great opportunity. But you should face the truth that you normally will have to pass the bar exam of your home country and start a career at home. If you want to practise law in US you should urgently do the J.D. (3 years)
I come from Germany. I will take the LLM after the second state examnination although I will be qualified tp practise at home. It is just because you are a "hot pick" for all the international employers if you have extensive abroad experience.

Good luck with your decision

Hello and thanks for your answer

In Switzerland to become a lawyer (i want to become a lawyer), you must have a bachelor of law, a master of law, make trainings in a law firm, and after do the bar exam.

I wanted to make my master in United States to increase the variety of my studies. Afterward perhaps I shall make the examination of the bar of NY.
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Just what is American J.D.'s ? docor of law ? or jurist ?
It's before or after the master ?
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With the bachelor i have studied during 3 years, and the swiss law and american law ( for exemple the constitution ) have many common points. (there are federal states)

After the LLM, i ll do certainly a MBA or something like that, so you see, it's to have a big variety in my CV and in my points of view.

Therefore, you imagine that the american law and the american university interest me to be exactly a "hot pick" for all the international employers.

Warm regards

J.D. means "juris doctor". It is the first qualification American students earn to become a lawyer. Afterwards they do their bar exam ( 3 months of hardcore learning; however, 75% of LLM students from top schools pass the bar exam at the first try) and that's it. In USA it is unusual to earn further degrees like LLM or PhD ( like Dr. jur.). They are going straight into business. Only some people who want to pursue academic careers do so.

Have a nice time out there with MBA, LLM ...

Best Regards from Germany

"As a foreign student you are allowed to take the bar
exam of New York and California."

There are also several other States which also allow foreign students to take the Bar Exam. Illinois & Missouri are the two latest States to come on board.

Missouri only requires that your legal education is equivalent to that provided at ABA approved law school. Tennessee requires the same thing. Illinois however requires that you have actively & continuously practiced law for 5 of the 7 preceding years. There's a rumour going around that Georgia would open its doors next year!


Initially, I thought NY and CA were my only options, once I found out this wasn't the case. I decided to take a less competive States' exam in Feb 2006. Anyway the comprehensive list can be found at http://www.ncbex.org/pubs/pdf/031505_COMPGUIDE2005.pdf
Pr: pgs 32-34