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LL.M. Discussion Board > Distance Learning > US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB 
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
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MarcHedi 
Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 3 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
HiThu Sep 01, 2005 09:08 AM I am a South African with the following qualifications: 1. Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine (MBChB) (undergraduate, 6 year, full-time, residence medical degree) 2. Master of Medicine (MMed) (Psychiatry) (postgraduate, 4 year, full-time, resident specialist Psychiatrist degree) I am currently completing two LLB degrees: 1. University of South Africa (UNISA) LLB degree(undergraduate, 4 year, full-time, distance education LLB degree) 2. University of London External Programme LLB degree (undergraduate, 3 year, full-time, distance education LLB degree) I would like to find out about my eligibility to sit any US State Bar exam. I am aware of some of the issues surrounding distance education and have viewed various of the US State Bar websites, but still remain thoroughly confused. My specific questions: 1. Would I be eligible to sit any US Bar exam with the above qualifications? 2. If not, what would I have to do to become eligible? 2. If not, would an LLM from a US university ensure eligibility? Many thanks in advance. Marcel |
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lawchick   Joined: 18 Apr 2005 Posts: 67 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
I think no matter what you need an LLM from a US lawschool to sit for the bar. I am pretty sure that it's an absolute requirement regardless of your qualifications...it's only one year of school. If you satisfy the LLM program somewhere, then you can apply to sit for the Bar, and I think the Bar officers will have to decide whether you are qualified. But if you have no problems (e.g. crimes, convictions, fraud, financial problems, etc.) you should be fine.
Thu Sep 01, 2005 03:20 PM |
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Russ  Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 207 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
In some states you may take the bar with a 3-year LL.B. Take a look at this discussion:Thu Sep 01, 2005 07:03 PM www.llm-guide.com/board/120 |
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| DOW
Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 3 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Hello everybody ,Thu Nov 01, 2007 06:05 PM I live in US and I am thinking of doing the LLB with UOL external program . Has anybody out there been through this process and is now practicing in the US . Also do I definitely need to do the LLM in order to the bar . Has anybody out there did the UOL LLB external program and went straight to do the bar without doing LLM ? I await your response Thanks DOW |
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| CaliforniaLawyer
Joined: 01 Nov 2007 Posts: 6 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Whether you may take the bar will vary from state to state with the US. You should look at the websites of the individual state bars where you are interested in practicing. Some states require a legal degree from an American Bar Association accredited institution - e.g. JD or LLM. Other states will allow anyone to sit for and take the bar. In California, you can take the bar without attending an ABA institution. In fact an associate of mine has a legal degree from Oxford and is licensed to practice in California. Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:59 PM The real question becomes finding employment. If possible, find a position with a UK office of a firm that also has offices in the US. That will allow you to potentially transfer to a US office of that firm. It will also make you more desirable to similar large international firms. On occasion US law firms do hire foreign lawyers that are not licensed in the United States. For example my firm recently hired a lawyer from Mexico. She typically works on international transactions where knowledge of a foreign legal system may be helpful. |
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| ideagirl
Joined: 01 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Sun Dec 02, 2007 05:21 PM I live in US and I am thinking of doing the LLB with UOL external program . Has anybody out there been through this process and is now practicing in the US . Also do I definitely need to do the LLM in order to the bar . Has anybody out there did the UOL LLB external program and went straight to do the bar without doing LLM ? I await your response If you live in the US, and you're planning on studying four years' worth of courses (LLB and LLM), for god's sake just go to law school here in the US. It only takes three years, and it will give you a much better chance at good employment than what you're proposing. Many states will not let LLM holders sit the bar, let alone LLB holders. In contrast, ALL states let holders of US law degrees sit the bar. |
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| domyumbri
Joined: 09 Dec 2007 Posts: 11 |
Online Law Schools Book
The Online Law Schools book does say that you do need the 3 year LLB from overseas for CA to accept you besides the LLM, and I also checked with another bar site and I think most states want the 3 year programs. The book has other external programs overseas besides london like Nottingham Trent, Anglia, Demontfort, and Univ of New England in Australia, completely online and they offer the JD and LLB, you an choose. So anyone considering London or overseas, TAKE the 3 year LLB, you will be more safe, NY just changed their rules as they will accept the LLB if you went in person(texas also) but not the exteranl. But, I think with an LLM, they do allow you. Best option is to take the CA bar and then sit for other states ,and a prestigious foreign LLB is probably better than a Non ABA JD. Mon Dec 10, 2007 02:54 AM In some states you may take the bar with a 3-year LL.B. Take a look at this discussion: [Edited by link updater on 10 Dec 2007] |
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| AlisN1dlan
Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Posts: 1 |
Online Law Schools Book
There seems to be a general belief that admission to the bar in California opens all doors to legal practice in the U.S. Thu Jun 12, 2008 03:05 AM > There are reasons why California's rules are so lenient - and why California allows that which virtually every other state prohibits. Before committing to California as a solution, PLEASE: ascertain that the state you want to practice in allows candidates to sit based on admission in California. Because in an awful lot of cases you're going to find yourself practicing in California for years before you're even eligible to sit for "other states". Also: rules on sitting for bar exams based on LL.B degrees are changing very, very fast. Someone starting an LL.B program might finish only to find that the requirements in his/her chosen state had changed over the course of that one year; leaving him out in the cold! Example: In Connecticut candidates with LL.B degrees were always eligible to sit for the bar exam. As of January '08 that is no longer the case. Foreign applicants for Connecticut admission are now being considered on a case-by-case basis and U.S. applicants from non-accredited law schools are flatly ineligible for the Connecticut Bar - without exception. I believe this is also the case in Massachusetts. Bottom line: the trend is toward allowing ONLY those candidates with J.D.'s from ABA-accredited law schools to sit for bar exams. |
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| Eddygordork2008
Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 1 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Hey, I'm a LLB student in the UK and I would like to come America. I just got wind of New York and California allowing foreign educated candidates to sit the Bar. Now my question is in the UK we have to branches in the Legal Profession, one being a Solicitor (provider of legal advice) and Barrister (goes to court much like an Attorney in the USA), now I was wondering if there is a US equivalent to a Solicitor ?Mon Jun 23, 2008 08:15 PM Ed |
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| Gregor2009 Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 548 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Hi Ed,Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:38 AM In US the profession is fused and lawyers are generally referred to as Attorneys-at-Law. Cheers Greg |
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| clarabella
Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 14 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Keep in mind that law firms will not hire you just because you passed the bar. My brother graduated from AU with an LLM and passed the NY bar in 2003 and although he was hired at the World Bank, law firms weren't really interested in hiriing him without a JD. Now I'm applying to LLM programs but considering a JD as well.
Thu Jul 17, 2008 05:51 PM |
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| AndrewinMoscow
Joined: 02 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Regarding admissions, in CA you need two years of undergraduate university experience plus an additional four years of legal education:Wed Sep 03, 2008 10:36 PM calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/admissions/sf_legal-edu-… I wouldn't count on state to state waiver laws as those change quickly as well. Further, count on the maximum required education as there's no guarantee that the rules will stay stable. A good example is the UK, which just added a year's work experience in British law for any non-EU trained Common Law attorney wishing to sit for the Solicitor's exam. For comprehensive U.S. bar admissions rules, please see the following (p. 30 covers foreign trained attorneys): www.ncbex.org/uploads/user_docrepos/CompGuide_01.p… |
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| tater
Joined: 31 Jan 2009 Posts: 1 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Dow, Sun Feb 01, 2009 02:12 PM Wondering how it's going with the university of london external program? Have you found a us llm program that would accept you, as of yet. [Edited by tater on 01 Feb 2009] |
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| sminou
Joined: 14 Sep 2009 Posts: 1 |
US Bar Eligibility with UoL External LLB
Hello !Mon Sep 14, 2009 11:21 PM I was wondering if you could enroll in a JD program in the US with an LLB from England and how many years it would take you to get the JD when you already have the LLB. Thank you |
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