How do you qualify for the bar in America with a law degree in England?

Question

How do you qualify for the bar in America with a law degree in England?

Answer 1

you go through 2 years of law school in America, that is if your undergrad credits will carry over. If not then you may have to take 4 more years of college. It is rough moving with a law degree to a new country.

Answer 2

It depends on what law degree from U.K. you posses, an LL.B. or an LL.M?

If you only posess an LL.B. then you are going to have to take at least a one year LL.M. in the U.S. (with certain requirements) or there in the U.K.

However, even with an LL.M. you are going to be very limited as to where you can take the bar. New York is about the only state which is considered rather lenient in that they allow foreign educated folks to sit for the bar (most states do not).

But even then, you are a foreign attorney without a J.D. and just an LL.M. You won't have people breaking down doors to hire you.

My suggestion to you is to get at least an LL.B. and then apply to a J.D. program here at a U.S. law school. This is usually two years of studies with a LL.B. This way you would be eligible to take the bar in any state but remember, that if you pass the bar in one state, that does not mean you can legally practice law in another.

Furthermore to be accepted into a law school in the U.S. you need to take the LSAT regardless of past law experience.

Another point to note is that to sit the bar exam in most states, you require at least two years of study in a U.S. law school and also, if you do graduate with either an LL.M. or J.D. from a U.S. law school and pass the bar exam, that doesn't mean you can practice law without the necessary visa. You will still require a company, organization or firm to sponsor and petition you for said visa.