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LL.M. Discussion Board > USA > Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM. 
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
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XML    Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 58 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Thu Nov 09, 2006 08:17 AM Hi SmartGuy! Hey worldisavillage, I guess smartguy has left the building :-) |
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| UnderemployedLawyer Joined: 19 Nov 2005 Posts: 94 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
I beg to differ. Large law firms know that anyone with a 3 year law degree from a common law country can sit the NY or CAL bar. Sun Nov 12, 2006 04:07 AM The only advantage I can see in that is if you decide to work for yourself (and there is a legal way to do that under US immigration law) or you speak fluent Spanish and can go work for a small firm in desperate need of a law licensed Spanish speaker. In fact, there is a large demand for Spanish speaking attorneys by small firms in California in the fields of criminal, domestic, and immigration law. So if you speak good Spanish and are eligible to sit the CAL bar, I'd do it without the LLM, at least if you want to work in the US in those practice areas. However, as far as biglaw is concerned, either in the US or back in your home country, just passing the NY or CAL bar will not give you an advantage over other candidates, unless you have something truly unique to offer, like sought after language skills (Spanish, Russian, Mandarin etc). So, if you have a good academic background and a few years of relevant work experience back home, then the LLM should suffice e.g., a UK solicitor with a 2.1 LLB from a good UK uni followed by 2 or 3 yrs experience in say corporate finance at a London-based City, MC, or US firm should have little difficulty securing a position in NY after completeing an LLM from a top 20 US law school and passing the NY bar. However, these types are usually able to secure a transfer to NY from London and stay with their firm anyway. Anyone else i.e., most of us - average to good academics from undergrad law schools in Europe/Asia etc, and little post qualification experience - need the JD, at least to get into biglaw or any medium to large firm in any US city. |
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| rld1177
Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 12 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Interesting comments. Im actually going at this the reverse - doing a weekend BVC right now and already have 6 years experience in MC and Corporate Finance in Canary Wharf. By UK LLB (which I did part time) was a 2.1 - do you see people with the background you describe moving to NY often? Also, any idea what the pay is at 'big law' in NY - I am around 100K base (pounds) right now but more on the banking side looking to shift over to the legal side.Wed Dec 13, 2006 01:38 PM Thanks |
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| SAN
Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
hi, i just joined this blog and find it really informative. i am currently enrolled in the uiv. of london external programme and was wondering if i would qualify to sit the CA bar. i know i looked up the website and it seemed that all u needed was a law degree not neccessarily that u be admitted to the bar in your home country. i am a little confused.
Tue Dec 19, 2006 04:23 AM |
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| chelentano
Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 1 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Dec 26, 2006 03:27 AM hi, i just joined this blog and find it really informative. i am currently enrolled in the uiv. of london external programme and was wondering if i would qualify to sit the CA bar. i know i looked up the website and it seemed that all u needed was a law degree not neccessarily that u be admitted to the bar in your home country. i am a little confused. I am considering enrollment in uiv. of london external programme myself. May I ask you, did you enroll in LLM or LLB? If it's LLM, what was your undergrad education? |
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| richardvf Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 184 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
I am a California lawyer. It is not that difficult. If you are a lawyer in your home country you are eligible to take the California bar exam, period. Your education qualifications do not matter. Common law, civil law, it doesn't matter. A 3 year LL.B from the UK will be sufficient so long as you are a licensed lawyer in the UK. If you are not a lawyer in your home country you need to have the educational equivalent of 2 years of undergraduate and 4 years of common law legal education. An US LL.M would count as 1 year of the 4 years of common law legal education required.Tue Dec 26, 2006 04:57 AM Here is the information link if you are not a licensed attorney in your home country. calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/sf_legal-edu-… Here is the information link if you are a licensed attorney. calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf [Edited 26 Dec 2006 by richardvf] |
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| rohinik26
Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 3 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
I am a foreign lawyer with LLM from India.. and applied to the cal bar in June.. to see if i am qualified.. the procedure is simple.. just register online as an attorney and send your home country bar council admission certificate which has details of registration no etc.. ( it took only 10 days for the process and i know that i can take the bar exam as Smart guy said..Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:23 AM Smart Guy: i have few questions for you.. I am aware that i need to do the MBE and General bar exam to do this.. But i dont know how to go about this.. ( Could i take the bar GB Exam & MBE together ) what is your take home on this.. what is the syllabus like.. which books to follow.. i am getting really confused trying to get these information.. could you pls help.. ?? Cheers |
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| priyaksaxena
Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 9 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Hi,Tue Jul 31, 2007 04:17 AM congratulations on getting through the first step i.e registration. i plan to take the bar in Feb next year. frinds of mine suggested to buy the Barbri study material. this is good. one of my frnds has ordered for Celebrations bar exam preparation guide. i am waiting to hear from her about how good the materials are. you can log on to barbri.com to learn more about this. priya |
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| rohinik26
Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 3 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Hi Priya.. that is cool.. we can be buddies in preparing for the exam if you dont mind.. you can mail me @ rohinik26@gmail.com
Tue Jul 31, 2007 04:18 PM |
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| mauricel
Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Posts: 39 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Hi SmartguyFri Aug 17, 2007 11:17 AM Need your comments here. I've a 3-years JD in Hong Kong [quite similar to LLB in UK or Australia] but NOT a qualified lawyer in my home town and i want to practice law in CA. Can you please comfirm if the steps i'm taking make smart sense to you to become a CA lawyer? 1.make credential evaluations to CA Bar association-approved service [i'm using www.wes.org] to see how long di i need to take legal eduation in the US 2 make application to CA bar exam association re this education requirement; 3. get confirmation from CA bar association to see if i need one or more years of legal study, if yes, go ahead for LLM in US [can't save US$35,000] 4. try my best to get best results in this 9-month course; 5. try my best to get a job in one-year practical training; and simultaneoously take Bar exam; What do you think? Many thanks for all of you here! maurice |
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| sukhjinder
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 5 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Mon Aug 27, 2007 03:17 AM Hi, Hey, Can u guide me as to how to do away with the requirement of the social security number while registering to do the bar exam in California?? Actually, i have done my LLB from Delhi univ. and am at the movement working with a law firm in toronto as a legal assistant. Sukhjinder [Edited 27 Aug 2007 by sukhjinder] |
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gkh_2005  Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 70 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Social security requirement is exempted for foreign lawyers. You can check detail from the California Bar exam website.Mon Aug 27, 2007 01:48 PM You can also write the New York Bar Exam with a LL.B. from India, which is much cheaper to write, if your goal is to be a US certified attorney. |
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| sukhjinder
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 5 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:02 AM Social security requirement is exempted for foreign lawyers. You can check detail from the California Bar exam website. Hi, I understand that i can appear for both new york and california bar exams with out the social security number. But i was talking to one of the articling students in my firm, He told me that the new york bar exam is difficult as it has essay type questions and the california bar exam is easy as it is all objective type. Can anyone give in inputs?? I understand that some students may find essay type questions difficult to attempt than the objective type and some may find it otherwise. Sukhjinder |
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| gkh_2005 Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 70 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
There are essays for California bar exam too. In fact the pass percentage is much less for California bar.Tue Aug 28, 2007 01:15 AM How easy is it to get a job with a Indian law degree in Canada ??? |
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| sukhjinder
Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 5 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Tue Aug 28, 2007 03:39 AM There are essays for California bar exam too. In fact the pass percentage is much less for California bar. Hi there r actually no jobs for indian lawyers. Indian lawyers, infact non-canadian lawyers r not required here (except american, im not sure). If u get a job, thats only on the basis of ur experience and u will work as an assistant only. and to become an assistant, u dont have to have a law graduate. Its much more difficult to get enrolled into canadian bar as compared to any bar in U.S. Sukhjinder |
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| iceo
Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
allright i'm confused.....i'm going to finish my LLB...and plan to do my LLM in the U.S...so should i do a J.D? or an LLM?....which is better and why...never heard of a JD before...forgive my ignorance :D.....hehe....thanks.
Sat Sep 01, 2007 07:27 AM |
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| gkh_2005 Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 70 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Do a J.D. program, chances of getting a job in the U.S. is greater, than doing a LL.M. However it may cost you more thanWed Sep 05, 2007 06:00 PM $1,00,000 in tuition and fees alone. |
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| rhillier
Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 5 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
As a foreign lawyer from a CIVIL LAW system... to become an attorney in California... all you have to do is write the Bar exam?? Is this correct? Or do you also have to write the First Year Law Student Exam? I am a bit confused by their site.
Fri Sep 07, 2007 03:47 AM |
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| richardvf Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 184 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
If you are an attorney in your home country it DOES NOT matter if you come from a common law or civil law system. To get licensed in California, a foreign attorney must register with the bar, pass the character and fitness, pass the MPRE and pass the bar exam. You do not need to take the first year examination. You do not need an LL.M or J.D. Residence status does not matter. It is that simple.Sat Sep 08, 2007 05:47 AM calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/77sf.pdf |
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| Neelam
Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Hi Smartguy,Mon Sep 17, 2007 08:23 AM I am a lawyer from Bombay University in India.Recently I did my LLM from Singapore but still I am not eligible for Bar in Singapore.I am planning to move to Houston in US.Can u tell me, do i have to do my LLM or (again) JD to be eligible in taking Houston Bar exam?Is anybody having idea about UK with India Law degree and Singapore LLM?As far as Job opportunities and salary is concerned, which one is better?Any rough idea about salary in both the countries. |
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| gkh_2005 Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 70 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
There is no Houston Bar exam, it is the Texas Bar exam. You can take the New York and the California bar.Mon Sep 17, 2007 04:12 PM J.D. is the king in USA. Even if you have a Ph.D/S.J.D from outside USA, you may not get a job. Doing LL.M. is OK for foreign attorneys who want to go back to their countries.Getting a job is almost impossible for foreign lawyers in the US. But I am wondering what is the use of a US LL.M., in thier home countries ???? How is the job market for lawyers in Singapore ??? |
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caro
 Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
HiMon Sep 17, 2007 06:07 PM I am a french law student intending to make an LLM next year in the US (California ideally) in order to take the bar exam there and get hired also there. I am surprised you're saying that foreign lawyers have few chance to get a job in the US. What would u recommend a law student who wants to settle dow in ths US to do then ? thanks |
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hannenyh  Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 219 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
I suggest you get a JD in two years at a good school. Getting an LLM is not the way to go if you want to stay in the U.S. more than a year after you are done with school. It is really hard to find a job, as you have less education in american law than your fellow job applicants. Some people get good jobs with an LLM. Maybe because of a certain expertise, top 10 school or language skills, but I would not recommend an LLM unless you want to return to your home country. I speak from experience. If you wish to settle down and do legal work, get your JD, if not you might be disappointed.
Tue Sep 18, 2007 06:57 PM |
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| Neelam
Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 2 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Hi, Wed Sep 19, 2007 06:24 AM I am planning to settle down in US with my family and no intention to go back to my country.So by doing LLM, my chance of getting Job is less in US.Is JD only for 2 years unlike other countries?Is there any other option if I do not want to do JD. Job market for lawyers in Singapore is pretty good.Infact the supply is much less than the demand for lawyers.But there is no place for foreign lawyers who has done LLM in Singapore. They might end up doing some paralegal job. |
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| hannenyh Joined: 02 Jan 2006 Posts: 219 |
Foreign lawyer in the US? You don't need LLM.
Your chances of landing a good, permanent jobb with an LLM are small (though not non-existent) That is just how it is. Plus you will have to get a job to sponsor your visa. That will cost them some money. That makes you less worth too. Get a JD and hope someone wants to sponsor you when you are done.
Wed Sep 19, 2007 01:58 PM |
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