How does an English solicitor convert to American/Australian law?

Question

I'm currently studying Law at a university in England, and am seriously considering a career as a solicitor.

I have always wanted to live abroad, either the US or Australia, but am wondering what impact an English LPC would have on my chances of doing this.

Hypothetically, how does one convert from English to Australian/American law? I assume this must be possible through some sort of conversion course?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Well, it would be a Lawyer in America, but also probably be more schooling to practice here

Answer 2

Not sure on the procedure for Australia but the U.S. is as follows:

To be eligible for the bar in the U.S. as a foreign attorney, a person must have completed 12-24 months of law school at an accredited law school in the U.S and obtained a J.D. (Jurist Doctor). The 12-24 months depends on if you have completed an LL.B. or an LL.M. in the U.K. The other prerequisites for the bar exam include a Professional Course with the state's Bar Association and completion of the Multi-State Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), which a minimum score is needed to pass. The score depends on the State.

Once the above is completed you are then eligible to sit the Bar Exam in your chosen state and again, a minimum score is required to pass. Once you do pass, you then take the oath and apply to the licensing body of the state.  

The only state in the U.S. which allows LL.B. holders to sit the bar exam is New York and thus, that is where many go, but you will still be a lawyer with an LL.B. in a J.D. world and will find difficulty in seeking employment and will not be eligible to work outside of the State of New York.

To apply to a law school in the U.S. you will need to take the LSAT (Law Schools Admission Test). The LSAT is only given four times a year (June, October, December and February) and it is possible to take the LSAT in the U.K.

With regards to your law degree in the U.K, when you apply to a law school in the U.S. you will submit your school transcripts for evaluation using the LSAC JD Credential Assembly Service. This is so that your foreign transcripts can be evaluated and the U.S. equivalence of them can be determined to see if you are eligible for law school and if you are, then which year of law school you will be entering.

Don't forget that to study in the U.S. at law school you will need an F1 (student) visa and another key note to remember is this; when you graduate with a J.D, pass all of the prerequisites for the bar, pass the bar exam, take the oath and are finally licensed, you will still not be legally permitted to work without the required H1B visa, for which a company must sponsor and petition you for.

Below are some links to help you.