Becoming a lawyer in USA from UK?

Have you got the right to work in the US through some kind of ancestry links? If not, finding work even post a US JD would not necessarily be straight forward, and even if you did you are entering an exceedingly competitive job market (probably more so than the UK).




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Getting the right to work in the US will be your biggest obstacle I suspect if you want to work there. It's not impossible, but many find it easier to do it via transferring via an employer you have worked for in the UK for at least 6 months. Secondments are fairly common in most international law firms with offices in the US, whether they are at trainee level or qualified lawyer level - so it's an alternative option to taking a JD in the states which can be ridiculously expensive unless you have some form of scholarship/sponsorship.



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I don't know enough about US law school entry requirements to comment but I do know of people who have studied at US law schools (relatively good ones) who didn't study at Oxbridge at undergrad level.

Scholarships and bursaries really depend on many different personal factors. They are not just awarded to the most academically gifted - there can be sports related programmes, community programmes etc. But the best part of $100-150k for a two year JD means that unless you get an exceptional programme that covers all fees and living costs, it is going to be a very expensive option.





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Here's Harvard as an example - http://hls.harvard.edu/dept/sfs/financial-aid-policy-overview/student-financial-aid-budget/

Once you add in other costs you would need $85k a year to cover all costs. And then you have to times that by 2.

Students who grew up in the same state as the uni sometimes pay less than students that live out of state but that depends on the university/state.

A fair number of students pay less due to their scholarships/bursaries etc. But many American grads come out with significant debt and in part that's why the American legal job market pays so well.


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No I used to be a recruiter in London but went to the US to take part in recruitment activities out there. It makes the UK system seem like child's play in comparison, it's that competitive.


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Here's Harvard as an example - http://hls.harvard.edu/dept/sfs/financial-aid-policy-overview/student-financial-aid-budget/

Once you add in other costs you would need $85k a year to cover all costs. And then you have to times that by 2.

Students who grew up in the same state as the uni sometimes pay less than students that live out of state but that depends on the university/state.

A fair number of students pay less due to their scholarships/bursaries etc. But many American grads come out with significant debt and in part that's why the American legal job market pays so well.


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Hi

I'm currently studying A Level Philosophy, English Literature and Biology, and have been predicted A*A*A by my teachers. I've applied to good universities ( Durham, Exeter etc.) for English as its something I'm really interested in.

After my English degree, I was thinking of converting to law and becoming a solicitor. My interest started after hearing what the job is like from family members and friend's parents, finding loopholes, the critical thinking and the concise, clear writing really appealed to me, and as such I've began to look for work experience to see if it's really for me. I've started by very broadly researching properly law, which seems fascinating !

I'm probably thinking way far ahead, but a dream of mine is to live in America for some amount of my life. I know university there is very different, but would I be able to apply for law courses there after my English degree, or would I need to do the GDL? Would it be difficult to get into a respected law school with a 2:1/ First from a uni like Durham/ St. Andrews( I know these unis are well regarded nationally, but I'm not sure how well known they are internationally).

Any advice would be very appreciated

Wouldn't recommend it tbh.Just go through the process here, become qualified, then maybe transfer over to one of their US offices as an English law specialist, rather than a dual qualified lawyer.Alternatively, only 2 states in the US allow you to sit the Bar exam as a UK grad, without a JD: New York and California. The caveat being you need at least 3 years of legal education (i.e. an LLB would suffice) but in the case where you were to convert, you'd need to undergo a two year senior status LLB + an LLM rather than a normal GDL conversion course to be permitted to sit the bar exam. Not to mention that the chance of actually passing the bar is incredibly low.JD courses are 3 year postgraduate degrees (as is the case foe most profession education in the US, they are mostly postgraduate) based around the study of law. The profession being as snooty as it has always been, generally places weight on those attending the 'top 14' Law schools - most of which are private. Factoring the money aspect of tuition, room and board - it's not uncommon to cough up $200-250k for those 3 years.As I said, stick with the UK.Posted from TSR Mobile

Thanks for your advice. I'm sure working in the UK as a lawyer would be equally rewarding. But who knows, maybe one day I'll be luck enough to live and work in the US, in some way or the other.

I recently found out about ' magic circle firms' in the UK. I understand their very competetive? Would someone who'd done the GDL even stand a chance, if they'd done their BA at a top uni ( Durham, St. Andrews etc). Does it matter where one does the GDL?

Thanks to you and J-SP for your advice. If you have any more suggestions from your own experience on what I can do at 17 to help build the foundation for a career in law, I'd be grateful.

Most people apply and secure a training contract before starting the GDL. If you are studying a non-law degree you would apply for TCs in your final year of uni.

Any "top" university will be fine as long as you develop your CV along the way. You will need strong grades, good extra curriculars and clear evidence for your rationale for wanting a career.

Are you state school educated? If so, look out for Pure Potential. They run events for those sixth form students interested in law and have good connections with a number of commercial firms.

When you get to uni you will have lots of opportunities to learn more about the sector.




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Hi

I'm currently studying A Level Philosophy, English Literature and Biology, and have been predicted A*A*A by my teachers. I've applied to good universities ( Durham, Exeter etc.) for English as its something I'm really interested in.

After my English degree, I was thinking of converting to law and becoming a solicitor. My interest started after hearing what the job is like from family members and friend's parents, finding loopholes, the critical thinking and the concise, clear writing really appealed to me, and as such I've began to look for work experience to see if it's really for me. I've started by very broadly researching properly law, which seems fascinating !

I'm probably thinking way far ahead, but a dream of mine is to live in America for some amount of my life. I know university there is very different, but would I be able to apply for law courses there after my English degree, or would I need to do the GDL? Would it be difficult to get into a respected law school with a 2:1/ First from a uni like Durham/ St. Andrews( I know these unis are well regarded nationally, but I'm not sure how well known they are internationally).

Any advice would be very appreciated

I know it's not specifically what you asked but just in case you didn't know you can't study law at a Scottish university and then practice in England - the law in Scotland is different to in England, so if you plan to go to St Andrews then I would do a non-law degree and then do the GDL in England.

Apart from that my advice to you is this - go to a really good English uni - Durham, LSE, Oxbridge, somewhere like that (which shouldn't be a problem with your grades), and aim for TCs at firms with a big US presence, like DLA Piper, Sherman & Stirling, Skaddens, and then try to transfer internally once you're a few years PQE. Otherwise, you're going to saddle yourself with a tonne of debt in the US trying to qualify over there.

I can't profess to knowing much about practicing in the US as it's never crossed my mind, but I think if I was planning on doing it that would be the route I'd take

Ive got an offer from Cambridge !

Ive got an offer from Cambridge !

If I am not mistaken there was a rule that you cannot apply at both Oxford and Cambridge. So out of curiosity how did you get rejected by Oxford and accepted at Cambridge ?