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Bar exam in California

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moniqe

Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Bar exam in California
Thu Oct 04, 2007 08:00 PM
Can somebody explain me, how it works in California/NY with the Bar exam for foreign students?

If I've finished 5 years of Commenius University in Slovakia, plus 2 years of Cambridge University and I have a Diploma in an introduction to english law and the law of the EU, do I need to take any additional year in law school or to attend the preparation course for Bar exame will be enough?Wright know I'm on internship (opractising imm. law) in USA.

Thank you for your response, hope it will solve my dilema :)
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Lit

Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Posts: 66
Bar exam in California
Fri Oct 05, 2007 07:27 AM
Hi Moniqe, this question has been debated ad nauseum on several threads on this board. It is always richardvf who responds "you don't need an LLM" to sit for the California Bar or NY Bar. Just look for the threads, should be easy enough to find.
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moniqe

Joined: 12 Aug 2007
Posts: 2
Bar exam in California
Fri Oct 05, 2007 04:50 PM
Thanx, appreciate it :)
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SteveB

Joined: 31 Jan 2007
Posts: 28
Bar exam in California
Tue Oct 16, 2007 11:46 PM
I wouldn't trust anyone except the official state bar examiners for accurate information because the rules may have changed from the last post. For California see www.calbar.org - there's probably a link for "Admissions Requirements" which will spell out Foreign Education rules. Ditto for New York - I just don't remember what their website is.
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
Bar exam in California
Wed Oct 17, 2007 04:29 AM
Here is the link outlining the California requirements if you are a licensed foreign lawyer.

calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
Bar exam in California
Wed Oct 17, 2007 04:34 AM
Here is the link outlining the educational requirements for non-attorney foreign applicants wishing to take the California bar exam:

calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/sf_legal-edu-…
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Gloss

Joined: 13 Oct 2007
Posts: 50
Bar exam in California
Sun Oct 21, 2007 05:29 PM
The correct information is that you dont need an LLM for the California Bar. But, as far as I know, for the NY Bar, LLM is required.
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ketki

Joined: 24 Jul 2007
Posts: 6
Bar exam in California
Fri Dec 07, 2007 07:31 PM
Hi everyone,

I am a law graduate from India and I had sent my application to CA bar for conforming eligibility to sit for CA bar eaxm. I received a letter stating that pursuant to polivy effective from July 2007, one year additional study in law school in courses determined by the Bar committee will be required to be taken. Does that mean, that LLM in my area of interest wont do?? I presumed, LLM being one year course should suffice the requirements. Also, they were vague enough to state that the curriculum as regards the courses will be notified in writing once it has been finalised. Can some one throw light on my concerns???
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
Bar exam in California
Sat Dec 08, 2007 02:50 AM
Are you an attorney in India? If so, you shoudn't need to have an LL.M to take the California bar.
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nriattorney

Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 234
Bar exam in California
Tue Dec 11, 2007 09:05 AM
Hi Ketki,
I am an attorney in India.

You have mentioned that you are a “law graduate from India”;

You will NOT need one year’s legal education in USA, if you are enrolled as an Advocate in India under the Advocates Act. Otherwise you will require one year's legal education.

In other words, if you are an “attorney admitted in a jurisdiction outside of USA”, then you will not require any further education for Calfornia Bar Exam.

The two situations are different.

In India also there are two types of “law degrees (LL.B)” – Professional and Non-Professional.

The LL.B (Professional) entitles you to get enrolment with the Bar Council as an Advocate under the Advocates Act. The same is not true with LL.B (Non-Professional) degree.

If your have a law degree which entitles you to be admitted into practice by enrolment with a Bar Council, then you should first get yourself enrolled as an ADVOCATE and then apply for California Bar Examination.

The following link contains “Instructions for the Application to take the California Bar Examination”
:
calbar.xap.com/applications/CalBar/info/bar_exam.h…

Here you will notice eligibility for
“Attorney Applicants” ; and for
“Foreign Educated Applicants”

You have probably confused the California Bar office by seeking information for “Foreign Educated Applicants”

First be clear about your entitlement to be enrolled as an Advocate in India; and then you should take up the matter with the California Bar Exam in either of the two categories:
(a) “Attorney Applicants” ; or
(b) “Foreign Educated Applicants”

If you are covered under (a), you will NOT need LL.M or one year's legal education in USA.

[Edited 11 Dec 2007 by nriattorney]
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anjni

Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Posts: 7
Bar exam in California
Thu Dec 13, 2007 07:05 PM
Thankyou all for shedding light on this matter. The eligibility rules for the NY bar, on their website, are not to the point. Is a 3 yr full time LLB from the UK sufficient for the NY bar? I have read conflicting answers to various threads....is an LLM required? Sorry for asking this question yet again! Thank you.
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nriattorney

Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Posts: 234
Bar exam in California
Fri Dec 14, 2007 01:47 PM
Unlike CA Bar exam, one is required to complete 20 credit hours of study in an ABA approved law school for NY Bar exam.
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