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Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.

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rohinik26

Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Fri Apr 11, 2008 09:17 PM
The Texas bar exam allows foreign lawyers to write the bar:there is no pre qualification process like NY or California. You have to fill the bar exam application and 1 important requirement is :

" you should have been licensed for atleast 5 -yrs out of the last 7 yrs ( if you do not have an LLM from US)

I applied to qualify and the procedure is long.. you need to get letter from your bar council, university, employers. The bar examiners write to all of them to verify each information you provide".
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Mon Apr 14, 2008 06:43 AM
Anyone who has taken this route? A 2 year llb followed by the UK bar then the California bar?


Besides searching on net extensively, I have discussed the matter with several attorneys and law professors in USA. The best route for practicing law in USA is 24 credits hours study in an ABA approved law school; it may be LL.M OR a non-degree seeking course; or part-time LL.M. In USA the Bar Licence is granted State-wise; however, if you are registered as an Immigration attorney with any State Bar, you can practice [immigration laws] throughout the country.


Hi all

How can i registered as a immigration law attorney in CA? Do i need to pass a bar exam or is there any other exam specifically for immigration laws?

Thanks for your advice.

maurice
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 190
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Apr 15, 2008 04:29 AM
You don't need to register. If you have a law license from any state and are admitted to practice before the immigration court, you can practice immigration law in California.
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Apr 15, 2008 05:20 AM
Thanks richardvf.

But what about if i'm a LLM student in a CA law school and do not clear the CA bar nor any other licences in US or foreign countries? is there any way i can be qualified as a lawyer practising immigration laws?

Thanks in advance.

maurice
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badkarma56

Joined: 07 Mar 2008
Posts: 57
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Apr 15, 2008 05:41 AM
Mauricel, you will have to pass a bar exam in an American jurisdiction in order to practice immigration law in the U.S.
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Charles Feng

Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 3
Re: Re: Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Wed May 07, 2008 03:31 PM
Hi there, u want to say that i am able (not only me) to become US attorney without US education?
Might be, but one year as LLM in USA (ivy-leaque) will give me more that education:
1) Lets agree that my language skills will much more increase
2) Without LLM in US univ.(ivy-leaque) i will "handicapped" (class B) :)
3) LLM in USA give opportunity to learn american law (laws) in real circumstances
4) And not save one year but spend it in brilliant great community of US ivy-leaque univ.
It might be that anybody will not agree with me but I think in such a way........
By the way, i have graduate univ. in my home country but i think i need LLM in USA to feel myself professional than foreign attorney.......Regards

I totally agree with you with regard to spending one great year of your life in one of the US law school.
My idea is likely to seem more attractive to those who consider LLM as trampline to admission to NY or any other Bar and who do not have extra $35,000 and/or do not want to sacrifice one year for of their life to academic studies of law.
As for language skill, i am not sure that LLM is a right place to improve English language skills.



Thanks a lot, Smartguy. I am a Chinese lawyer without a law degree in my home. Are you sure that I will be able to take the CA Bar? Much appreciated for your attention.please kindly reply to me via email fchao7847@gmail.com if possible.
Great thanks in advance
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Re: Re: Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 08, 2008 08:04 AM
Charles

Just woruld like to share my experience. I have written confirmation from CA bar that i can take its GBX [general bar exam] once i got a LLM in US.

However, if you're admitted as a Chinese lawyer, you may register as an attorney appliant: www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?…

For more information re foreign lawyers aiming at admitting to CA bar, you may check:
calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/Outside-Ed-Bu…

regards
maurice
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Charles Feng

Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 3
Re: Re: Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 08, 2008 08:43 AM
Much appreciated for your kind advice,mauricel.

I am just concerned that whether I will be able to take the exam as attorney appliant and it has no other requirement on legal background.

Would you mind confirming that?I sent an email to CA bar association but not heard back from them.

[Edited by Charles Feng on 08 May 2008]
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Re: Re: Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 08, 2008 09:24 AM
Charles

You need to register as a attorney applicant on-line and the pre-requisite is you need a Social Security Number, but if you don't have, you need to call them at 213-765-1000
in LA to get an registration and Social Security number exemption form. They will send it to you via post.

This is the only way you can get the form, then you may follow their instructions and you should be able to make application to apply for the CA bar exam as an attorney.

Whether you have a law degree or not in China is not important as you're already an admitted lawyer. You may read this; www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf

Let me know if i can be of any help.

regards
maurice
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Charles Feng

Joined: 06 May 2008
Posts: 3
Re: Re: Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 08, 2008 10:23 AM
Charles

You need to register as a attorney applicant on-line and the pre-requisite is you need a Social Security Number, but if you don't have, you need to call them at 213-765-1000
in LA to get an registration and Social Security number exemption form. They will send it to you via post.

This is the only way you can get the form, then you may follow their instructions and you should be able to make application to apply for the CA bar exam as an attorney.

Whether you have a law degree or not in China is not important as you're already an admitted lawyer. You may read this; www.calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf

Let me know if i can be of any help.

regards
maurice


Dear Mauricel

Great thanks for the fantastic news and your patient guidence. This is exactly what I want to confirm.I will call them and ask for the form.

Again, thanks so much...btw, are you in the states now? I am in HK and working with a international firm here.

Will you mind giving me your email or contacts for our further possible communication? Fine if it is not convinient to you.

Wish you a happy day.

[Edited by Charles Feng on 08 May 2008]
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aalba

Joined: 07 May 2008
Posts: 10
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 08, 2008 10:11 PM
I am an american citizen, but I studied in Dominican Republic (civil system). I want to know if the fact of being american improves my possibilities of being hired by a good firm after doing an LLM in the US.
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 190
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Fri May 09, 2008 07:06 AM
All things being equal, being a US citizen will definitely help you get an attorney job. However, you will be competing against US citizen applicants with American J.D. degrees. You will need to attend the best LL.M program you can get into and excel.
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aalba

Joined: 07 May 2008
Posts: 10
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue May 20, 2008 03:40 PM
Now I have a new concern. Imagine this situation, I am an american citizen but I studied my Law Carrer in Dominican Republic (four years at university) and I am Lawyer under this system (Civil Law). If I decide to make a JD program in USA, that would be just three more years of studies, or I would have to make precollege studies before I enter to Law School?
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hannenyh


Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 220
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue May 20, 2008 09:49 PM
Nope. You can enter into the JD program based on your foreign education. You might even be able to finish your JD in two years if you do well on the LSAT and etc. This is due to the fact that several American schools let you "waive" one year for your foreign law degree. Good luck.

There are several useful posts in the JD category. They will direct you in the right direction.
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aalba

Joined: 07 May 2008
Posts: 10
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Wed May 21, 2008 03:41 PM
Where is the JD category? What is an LSAT?

[Edited by aalba on 21 May 2008]
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Russ


Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 207
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Wed May 21, 2008 09:39 PM
Where is the JD category?

www.llm-guide.com/board/jd

What is an LSAT?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_School_Admission_Test
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sdess

Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 7
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 22, 2008 12:11 AM
Thank you to mauricel and richrddvf for the insightfull answers. now I have 2 questions, I'm sure that have been asked before:1) which are the most sought after LLM for the employers? 2)And of course which universities are they more likely to recruit you from?
Thanks!!!
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ginni

Joined: 21 May 2008
Posts: 1
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 22, 2008 03:14 AM
hi smartguy ,
i haV a query... i hav done my LLB degree from india...
cn i practice in states? do i need 2 do LLM or is there any other exam for that?
do advice me
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu May 22, 2008 03:40 AM
Thank you to mauricel and richrddvf for the insightfull answers. now I have 2 questions, I'm sure that have been asked before:1) which are the most sought after LLM for the employers? 2)And of course which universities are they more likely to recruit you from?
Thanks!!!


I'm afraid your questions are too broad to be answered. Which state/s do you want to go? and what kind of employers are you talking about? private firms? gov't?or?

Be precise please.

maurice
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sdess

Joined: 19 May 2008
Posts: 7
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Fri May 23, 2008 05:35 AM
I hold a LLB from a European civil law country and am mostly looking into International Business Transactions and Trade law (trade regulations, not only antitrust, we can expand that to import/export regulations) in the US, I plan to stay on the East coast, and am looking into law firms, but not exclusively, there are other options such as government jobs and consultancy agencies. I am a US citizen, even though it's known that fact boost employability, I definitely want to make the right choice on the university who has the right LLM giving me not only a solid program but also good work prospects. I know that law firms are not crazy about LLMs, the schools that I am mostly looking into are: Georgetown, American University /WCL, Fordham, and NYU. I also had a pick on Arizona ( James E Rogers) since they have a pretty good program.
Thanks Maurice
SD

[Edited by sdess on 23 May 2008]
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mauricel

Joined: 05 Jun 2007
Posts: 73
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Fri May 23, 2008 07:56 AM
We love specifics here, but sorry i'm not that familiar with the east coast.

Anybody?

regard
maurice
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nanie8328

Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Posts: 4
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Wed Jul 23, 2008 08:01 PM
Hi, I'm a foreign lawyer but NOT ATTORNEY, I didn't pass the bar in France nor Spain even though I studied 4 years in a French law school and 1 year in Spain. (I'm French and Spanish)
Since December 07, I'm working as legal assistant/trainee with Visa J1 in the US (ohio and louisiana) and I don't want to do a LLM (too expensive :) ). I called the Cal Bar admission and they want me to register as law student and start paying just to advise me if I'm eligible to sit the bar.
So I was wondering without LLM or license to practice but with 9 months or legal experience in the US and some courses in France in commoin law done by americans and british teachers, do you think I could be eligible to sit for the bar exam in California now or would it be better to wait, pass the bar in France or Spain and come back with my license ?
Thanks
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richardvf

Joined: 25 Feb 2006
Posts: 190
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 04:44 AM
California recently changed its requirements regarding non-attorney foreign applicants who wish to take the bar examination.

calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/Outside-Ed-Qu…

It appears that California now requires an LL.M if your foreign law degree is considered an equivalent of a J.D. degree. Basically, it is much easier to meet the requirements for admission to the California bar if you are licensed as an attorney in your home country. I am surprised that with 5 years of university legal education you never received a license. Good luck.
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nanie8328

Joined: 28 Jan 2007
Posts: 4
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu Jul 24, 2008 01:51 PM
Thanks Richard !
Actually in France, after 4 years of law, you've got to review all the law during one year at the IEJ (institut d'études judiciaires) then, pass the exam to enter at the CRFPA (school for attorneys)
Then, you've got to learn how to become a French attorney at the CRFPA during 18 months and then, after others exams you can say you've got your license to practice :)
Thanks again
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SilviaLLM

Joined: 24 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Fri Sep 05, 2008 01:49 PM
To all foreign lawyers in the US (including myself): I hope we all agree on one thing that LLM will never replace JD degree.
If you intend to practice law in the US with LLM you have to understand that you are "handicapped" (class B if it sounds better) from educational point of view.
If all you want from LLM is to be able to sit for NY bar exam, i think i have good news how to save admission headaches and $25,000 tuition + another $10,000 for living expenses.
Here is what you can do:
Stage One: Get admitted to your home Bar.
Stage Two: Take and pass California bax exam as attorney admitted in foreign jurisdiction.
Stage Three: no no no, just two.
Congratulations. You saved $35,000, one year of your life, admission headaches AND you can call your self US attorney now.
Questions?
Hi smartguy.
Could you please, let me know about California Bar.
I am an attorney from Brazil, with Bar in Brazil. Our system is not common law. California Bar should accept that???
Thanks for your information
Silvia

[Edited by link updater on 05 Sep 2008]
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