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Puerto Rico?

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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Tue Jun 23, 2009 01:25 PM
Hi

I'm a licensed lawyer from Denmark. I plan to work either in Florida or Puerto Rico as a lawyer.

That is why I would appreciate to know if this is possible with out the J.D, but with an 1 year LLM curse and the bar exam?

Thanks
Silas
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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:48 PM

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You can always refer to: www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/mediafiles/downloads/Comp_……

In short, negative to Florida (p.30), and "conditional" for Puerto Rico (p.33).

And of course i have a disclaimer here: do write to those bar organizations (p.43 - 46) to make sure all of the information are accurate and up-to-date.

Good luck.

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Thanks a lot for your response and link.

But I do have trouble understanding the requirements for Puerto Rico, because on the matrix at p.31, they marked NO to the following two questions:

“If graduates of foreign law schools are eligible to take the bar examination under the rules in your jurisdiction, are any of the following required?”
They marked "additional education at an ABA-approved law school"

And they marked NO to this:
"If a foreign law school graduate obtains an LL.M. or other graduate law degree from an ABA-approved school, is the graduate then eligible to take the bar exam?

Do you think this indirectly means that they require the J.D title?

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I'm now awaiting reply from the curt administration of Puerto Rico. But if you have the answer to the above questions, please feel free to write it here..


Greetings
Silas
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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:50 PM
this is the correct link

www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/mediafiles/downloads/Comp_…
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marthona


Joined: 11 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Puerto Rico?
Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:46 PM
I'm a 2L at the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. The foreign attorneys need additional classes at an ABA approved school in Puerto Rico (only three here) plus the LSAT. The P.R. bar exam is tough, they say that California and P.R. are the most difficult ones. There is only one LL.M. here in Spanish in San Juan, cheaper by the way. Would not advise to become a PR attorney. Good Luck, anyhow!!!!
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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:45 AM
thanks for your advise.

Do you have a link to a English speaking law school in Puerto Rico, where I'm able to take tale the additional classes?

Do you know how many classes I have to take, like 1,2,3 or 4 semesters?

Why would you not advise me to become an attorney in Puerto Rico?

Thanks
Silas
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marthona


Joined: 11 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Puerto Rico?
Fri Jun 26, 2009 03:51 PM
You also have to take, on top of the LSAT, a test called EXADEP, which is an English-Spanish kind of GRE. The official language of the island is Spanish, you would be taking classes in Spanish mainly, lots of well-educated people speak English as well. I am not a school counselor so I cannot advise how many classes. The money situation here is not good.
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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:09 PM
Thanks.. I think the EXADEP is impossible for me to pass, because I do not speak or write Spanish. I know that all the laws in PR are translated into English, I did not know about this languages requirement. But thanks for telling me.

Link to the EXADEP test:

www.etsliteracy.com/portal/site/ets/menuitem.14885…
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Dr.T

Joined: 18 May 2008
Posts: 6
Puerto Rico?
Mon Jul 06, 2009 07:50 PM
I just finished my J.D. at the University of Puerto Rico and will be sitting for the bar exam on september. Here you can find the Rules for admission to practice law in PR in english. www.ramajudicial.pr/junta/acrobat/Rules-for-the-ad… If you dont know spanish, it will not be possible for you to pass the bar. That is not your last option, if you pass the bar in any US state (find the easiest one, with the least requirements for foreigners), you can practice Federal law in any jurisdiction, including Puerto Rico's Federal Court, which is completely in english. You could do criminal law, bankruptcy, immigration, intellectual property or other practices that have exclusive Federal jurisdiction in Puerto Rico.
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marthona


Joined: 11 Jul 2008
Posts: 18
Puerto Rico?
Tue Jul 07, 2009 01:48 AM
Yes, Dr. T is right.... I met an attorney from NY with the NY Federal Bar and he practices federal criminal mostly but he can do other things as well.
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Ginnie

Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Posts: 1
Puerto Rico?
Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:19 PM
I have to add that you should check with the US District Court for the District of PR, bc when I tool the Federal Bar in PR about four to five years ago, there was a lawyer from NY and she had to take the local federal bar exam as well, even though she had been litigating in NY for about 10 years.

I have to be honest, go to FL. Right now, the situation on the Island is really slow, and if you are not a spanish speaker, things could be hard for you. I think in Florida, you might have more options.

Good Luck
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silasla

Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Puerto Rico?
Wed Jul 08, 2009 01:26 PM
Thanks for your answers

To Dr.T
I'm really happy to hear that I might have options regarding practise law in the Federal Court of Puerto Rico. Because I'm mostly interested in intellectual property.. But also contract law and tort law. Do you know if tort is under the Federal Court?

To Ginnie
I like Florida, but according to www.ncbex.org/fileadmin/mediafiles/downloads/Comp_…

page p.30, they do not accept foreign lawyers in Florida. But maybe they do accept them to work in the Federal Court, if the lawyer pass a barexam in a US state like California or New york.

Greetings
Silas
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