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California and NY Bar Exam

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Seesaw

Joined: 06 Aug 2007
Posts: 1
California and NY Bar Exam
Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:54 AM
First, with regard to the UK trainee solicitor. It is correct, but not the full story that a UK LL.B. is completed in three years if it isn't a combo degree. I did a BA Law and Criminology and that was four years. However, after your LL.B. you have an additional year doing your common professional exam (CPE) and then you have two-year's Articles (now just referred to as a training contract) where you get on the job training. You must complete all of this before you can become a solicitor (e.g. six years), so don't get stuck on the fact the LL.B. itself is only three years. You can't become a solicitor in the UK with just a LL.B.

Second thing, I have a LL.M. and I took and passed the Feb 2007 NY Bar Exam the first time. Yes, it is difficult because of how much you have to learn and memorize. It is a true ten-week endurance test. However, if you prepare properly it is not difficult at all (NOTE: you CANNOT work and devote enough time to this endeavor, it is a ten-week 10-14 hour a day job by itself). I came out of the exam both days figuring I had failed because I thought it was relatively easy after all of the preparation. I did the full BarBri course and I had the PMBR CD's and books too. I scored a 145 raw on the MBE. The MBE (200 multi-choice questions) is worth 40% (someone above said it is worth 60%, which is not the case). The five NY essays are also worth 40%. There is a NY practical exam worth 10% and the NY multiple-choice questions (50 of them) are also worth 10%. Therefore, the NY section of the bar is worth a total of 60% and the multi-state is worth 40%.
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Parvez

Joined: 24 May 2007
Posts: 4
Californian Bar Exam
Fri Aug 10, 2007 07:54 PM
Visit :www.barbri.com
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jeffn

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Californian Bar Exam
Thu Sep 13, 2007 08:27 PM
I got my LLB from Kenya.I took the february 2007 New York Bar and failed.I guess i did not study enough.I still had a full time job while studying for the Bar.Not A good idea obviously.I just took and passed my MPRE and i want to prepare for the NY bar for FEB 2008.
I need some help in understanding the grading.
1) How many points is each essay worth raw?
2)Is it true that the NY multiple choice questions are so difficult that it is virtually impossible to get more than 55% right?
3)How many points can i aim for to score on each part to ensure a realistic hope of passing?
4)Are 4 months of dedicated study sufficient?
5)Any tips?
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gkh_2005


Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 70
Californian Bar Exam
Fri Sep 14, 2007 05:20 AM
Were you able to obtain a job in the US ??

How did u manage, can you please inform.
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jeffn

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
Californian Bar Exam
Fri Sep 14, 2007 01:07 PM
Yes. I do have a job in the US.But my job has nothing to do with law or law practice.it took me a while to realise that i qualify to take the New york Bar based on my LLB and admission in my home country.I am a permanent resident here.
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zoha_b

Joined: 21 Oct 2007
Posts: 1
New York Bar
Mon Oct 22, 2007 12:37 PM
Hello, I am a UK LLB graduate (high 2:1) and I had plans to move back to the states and sit the new york bar. I was told however, very recently by an american lawyer that my chances of finding a job upon passing the bar exam are very slim and if I want to find a decent job in a law firm, i would have to do the JD which is means, another 3 whole years of law!!! does anyone know whether or not there's any way to get around this?!
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gkh_2005


Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 70
New York Bar
Mon Oct 22, 2007 03:32 PM
Your American friend is right. I have learnt it in a hard way, it is extremely difficult to find a job without a J.D. from a reputed University. Doing a LL.M. from top ten university might land you a job. However, you will be taking a chance.

As far as bright propsects for a job is concerned, J.D. is everything in the U.S.
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Johannes32

Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
New York Bar
Tue Nov 06, 2007 08:26 PM
Can anyone please help me out:

As a German qualified Lawyer awarded my first law degree from Germany and a internal LLM from the University of London, am I eligible to sit the New York Bar Exam? After reading the "Rules" it appears that the requirements are to study a 20 credit program with at least 2 basic courses in American law, in an approved law school.

My questions: 1. Is Queen Mary, University of London an ABA approved law school?
2. Is there a way to take the basic courses on American law, let's say in a summer course etc?

Any help would be highly appreciated!
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Russ


Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 200
New York Bar
Tue Nov 06, 2007 08:52 PM
My questions: 1. Is Queen Mary, University of London an ABA approved law school?



The ABA only approves US law schools. For a full list of ABA approved schools click here: www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/alpha.ht…

[Edited by Russ on 09 Nov 2007]
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Johannes32

Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Posts: 4
New York Bar
Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:42 PM
Okay, thanks - I didn't know that.

So is there any chance to sit the NY bar with an LLM awarded outside the USA from another common law jurisdiction eg. England?
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equity's darling

Joined: 28 Nov 2006
Posts: 268
New York Bar
Wed Nov 07, 2007 01:01 AM
I havent read all the stuff in this thread, so maybe this is redundant, but I know for SURE that anyonw holding an LLb or JD from a canadian law school can sit the NY bar. I know several people who have done so.
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susiee

Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
New York Bar
Wed Nov 07, 2007 01:27 AM
You need to have done a three-year degree from a common law country to be eligible to pass the bar exam, so it appears that a one-year llm would probably not be enough to sit the bar exam. unfortunately, the only other route is to do an ll.m at a us law school...
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akiela

Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Posts: 8
New York Bar
Wed Nov 07, 2007 03:01 AM
hey i was asking in some other posts. does anyone know what law school offers a program that will allow me to practise law anywhere in canada or US.
i.e. i can move from canada to US and still be eligible to practise law
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anjurupesh

Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
New York Bar
Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:56 PM
I am LLB from India and planning to take bar exams in Tennessee in july 08. I am told from the board of law examiners, TN that I need to file the notice of intent and applicaton then they will let me know if I am eligible. Do you guys have any idea about this ?
thanks
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jeffn

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
New York Bar
Sun Jun 29, 2008 01:17 AM
I finally passed the NY Bar on the second attempt.See my first post on this thread. It was quite hard but i realized that the key is in taking a FULL bar review course and putting in many hours of study.i believe that it is next to impossible to pass the bar without taking a Bar Review course.The other critical thing is to make sure to hve AT LEAST 2 months clear to do nothing else but take the bar review course and study.

I was admitted to the New York State Bar on june 24th, 2008.

The next hurdle, which is really formidable, is getting a job actually.I know it is very hard for a foreign trained attorney to get a job.
Anyone with some ideas to share?

[Edited by jeffn on 29 Jun 2008]
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Craig

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 34
New York Bar
Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:12 PM
Just wondering, doing LL.M from a Law School is USA as a pre-requisite to sit for the NY Bar exam.... does the law school have to be per say situated in USA itself?

I ask this question as someone told me doing LL.M from Notre Dame Law School's London campus (Notre Dame Law School of USA have a campus in London for their LL.M programme) will not help as it is not based/located in USA.

[Edited by Craig on 29 Jun 2008]
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jeffn

Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 4
New York Bar
Mon Jun 30, 2008 05:21 AM
Craig,
You do not need an LLM to take the NY bar Exams.I took them.I dont have one .My Degree is an LLB from kenya.

Look at this extract from the Board Of Law Examiners Site:

Synopsis of the Requirements of Section 520.6(b)(1). Section 520.6(b)(1) of the Rules of the Court of Appeals requires an applicant to provide satisfactory proof of the following:

(1) that the applicant has fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in a foreign country other than the United States;

(2) that the applicant has successfully completed a period of law study in a law school or schools, that is at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (d) and (e) of section 520.6;

(3) that throughout the period of the applicant’s study, the law school or schools attended was each recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country, or a political subdivision thereof, as qualified and approved;

(4) that the jurisprudence of such foreign country is based upon the principles of the English Common Law; and

(5) 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.

[Edited by jeffn on 01 Jul 2008]
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devilsadvocate

Joined: 16 Jun 2008
Posts: 3
New York Bar
Tue Jul 01, 2008 06:54 PM
I am a little confused now:

My question:
I am a german attorney and want to become a US-attorney.
What do I need to take the new york bar exam? Isn't it necessary to complete an LLM before applying?
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goodman

Joined: 24 Sep 2008
Posts: 1
New York Bar
Sat Sep 27, 2008 07:42 PM
hi all
extending the thread of discussions, i would like to know the job prospects in usa after doing llm from temple univ and clearing the ny bar. i have 12 yrs of high court practice in pakistan and am proficient in english as well as other local languages. pls guide.
thanx
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