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LLM or JD??

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aoriathelion

Joined: 20 Jan 2008
Posts: 1
LLM or JD??
Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:45 AM
Hi there, I am 23, Mexican attorney (but us. citizen ), I have been practicing law in Mexico the past two years, but I want to study in the United States (specifically in California) in order to become a lawyer there. But I am still not sure what path or steps should I follow. A cousin of mine which is a US Lawyer himself told me that one must study at a pre-law school, and then get a Juris Doctor degree at law school. And finally sitting at the Bar exam. But I have been looking at the other alternative LLM in Comparative law. I may be wrong but hypothetically, if I take the LLM course and approved it, I sit at the bar exam and if passed can I practice law in California? Or something am i missing?
Personally I found that too good to be true, cause LLM courses are shorter, I ask my cousin about that but he have no Idea of LLM in comparative law as a mean to become a lawyer in the US. Or what do you recommend should I go the “normal rout” studying a bachelor degree and then law school, or just go straight at the LLM and after that do the state bar of CA exam. Thanks in advance!!!
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susiee

Joined: 31 Oct 2007
Posts: 25
LLM or JD??
Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:42 PM
As I understand it, in order to be admitted for the JD you need an undergraduate degree, but not necessarily from the US - as I have met some intl JDs in the US who did their first degrees from their home countries - and you would also need to sit for the LSAT.

You could also go for the LL.M and wouldn't need to sit for the LSAT.
The advantage of the LL.M is that it's much shorter and less expensive, but the pitfall is that it's pretty difficult to get a job in the US after hte LL.M as JDs are given preference.
As an american citizen i guess taht you would be eligible for federal loans etc. for the JD - so my advice would be to go for a JD if you definitely want to stay in the us especially if you're admitted in a good school since you would be pretty much guaranteed a job.
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hannenyh


Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 219
LLM or JD??
Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:02 AM
1. You do not need a "pre-law" course, or a bachelor from the U.S. to get your JD. You will however have to take the LSAT which is a pain in the ass, especially for non-native English speakers.

2. LLM is probably a good idea, but if you want to practice in California you don't have to finish an LLM. If you have your attorney license from Mexico you can apply to the bar in California. That being said, taking the bar with no experience with common law might be pretty darn hard, even if you attend a bar exam course. A lot of people fail the CA bar exam, and the course is expensive, so it might be a waste of money. It might also be hard to find a job afterwards, unless you have some good connections.

Good luck in your decision.
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 186
LLM or JD??
Thu Jan 24, 2008 05:33 AM
Hannenyh is correct in that you do not need any further legal education in the US (LL.M or J.D.) to take the California bar examination. As a licensed attorney in Mexico, you are eligible to take the California bar exam and, if you pass the bar exam and the moral character evaluation, will be a California attorney. Here is the link:

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

That being said, because you have a civil law backround, I would suggest that at a minimum you get an LL.M at one of the law schools in California. During your LL.M year, I would suggest that you take as many law school courses that are tested on the California bar exam as possible. After you finish the LL.M, but before you take the bar exam, you will also need to complete a reputable bar review course. The California bar exam has a very low pass rate and many US students who have JD degrees and speak English as a first language fail. If you don't want to spend 3 years for a J.D., an LL.M followed by a bar review course will give you the best chance of passing the Caifornia bar exam IMHO.
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