Practising law in America?
Hiya
So I’m currently an undergraduate student going into my second year. I’m studying English literature but ultimately want to go on to practise law in America. Initially my plan was to graduate and then study at a law school in the states but I looked at finance options and saw that there isn’t really any student finance or funding outside of scholarships. I then thought about taking the sqe exam after I graduated and ultimately qualifying as a solicitor here and then going over to the states. However, I’ve read that it’s impossible to qualify for the bar exam with a conversion course and that even if I did drop out (something I’m hesitant to do) and take the llb it’s very hard to get employment without a jd. I guess I’m just looking for advice from anyone who has any. Thanks very much
So I’m currently an undergraduate student going into my second year. I’m studying English literature but ultimately want to go on to practise law in America. Initially my plan was to graduate and then study at a law school in the states but I looked at finance options and saw that there isn’t really any student finance or funding outside of scholarships. I then thought about taking the sqe exam after I graduated and ultimately qualifying as a solicitor here and then going over to the states. However, I’ve read that it’s impossible to qualify for the bar exam with a conversion course and that even if I did drop out (something I’m hesitant to do) and take the llb it’s very hard to get employment without a jd. I guess I’m just looking for advice from anyone who has any. Thanks very much
Original post by Tekramwots
Hiya
So I’m currently an undergraduate student going into my second year. I’m studying English literature but ultimately want to go on to practise law in America. Initially my plan was to graduate and then study at a law school in the states but I looked at finance options and saw that there isn’t really any student finance or funding outside of scholarships. I then thought about taking the sqe exam after I graduated and ultimately qualifying as a solicitor here and then going over to the states. However, I’ve read that it’s impossible to qualify for the bar exam with a conversion course and that even if I did drop out (something I’m hesitant to do) and take the llb it’s very hard to get employment without a jd. I guess I’m just looking for advice from anyone who has any. Thanks very much
So I’m currently an undergraduate student going into my second year. I’m studying English literature but ultimately want to go on to practise law in America. Initially my plan was to graduate and then study at a law school in the states but I looked at finance options and saw that there isn’t really any student finance or funding outside of scholarships. I then thought about taking the sqe exam after I graduated and ultimately qualifying as a solicitor here and then going over to the states. However, I’ve read that it’s impossible to qualify for the bar exam with a conversion course and that even if I did drop out (something I’m hesitant to do) and take the llb it’s very hard to get employment without a jd. I guess I’m just looking for advice from anyone who has any. Thanks very much
You'd only be competitive for a role in the US with a JD from a very good uni or several years experience as a commercial solicitor in the UK in a very transferrable, usually transaction, practice area.
Hey, I too have aspirations to qualify and practice internationally after my 2-year LLB.
After you have successfully completed your conversion course in the UK, you can apply to an LLM at a University that either has higher acceptance for international students or specialises in the area of Law you intend to enter.
Type into Google 509 disclosure then Law school name, which will give you official published stats of the current class profile.
Trust me you do not need a JD to practice law in America, there are other routes. Check the bar requirements in the state you wish to study or work in.
GDL/PGDL is accepted in the majority of states, check the American Board Association for specific states.
Miami University has a one-year LLM you can top up an additional year, and the final qualification is a JD. Harvard takes many international students with LLB or equivalent from their home country.
For example, Amal Clooney completed her LLB at Oxford and subsequently was accepted into the LLM programme at NYU. She is now an international barrister based in London.
Also, some states only require you to sit the state bar without having a US degree, such as California and New York. The University of Law has Bar Prep courses that can help with this.
Once you have narrowed down where you want to practice, research law firms and LinkedIn. By researching associates with non-JD qualifications, it will be easier to determine what may work for you.
I hope this helps.
DM message if you need any more help
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/llm-degrees_post_j_d_non_j_d/programs_by_category/
https://www.barbri.com/usbar/bar-exam-foreign-eligibility/#other
https://www.nybarexam.org/Eligible/Eligibility.htm
https://www.allaboutllms.co.uk/llm-advice/choosing-a-law-school/studying-in-the-usa
After you have successfully completed your conversion course in the UK, you can apply to an LLM at a University that either has higher acceptance for international students or specialises in the area of Law you intend to enter.
Type into Google 509 disclosure then Law school name, which will give you official published stats of the current class profile.
Trust me you do not need a JD to practice law in America, there are other routes. Check the bar requirements in the state you wish to study or work in.
GDL/PGDL is accepted in the majority of states, check the American Board Association for specific states.
Miami University has a one-year LLM you can top up an additional year, and the final qualification is a JD. Harvard takes many international students with LLB or equivalent from their home country.
For example, Amal Clooney completed her LLB at Oxford and subsequently was accepted into the LLM programme at NYU. She is now an international barrister based in London.
Also, some states only require you to sit the state bar without having a US degree, such as California and New York. The University of Law has Bar Prep courses that can help with this.
Once you have narrowed down where you want to practice, research law firms and LinkedIn. By researching associates with non-JD qualifications, it will be easier to determine what may work for you.
I hope this helps.
DM message if you need any more help
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/llm-degrees_post_j_d_non_j_d/programs_by_category/
https://www.barbri.com/usbar/bar-exam-foreign-eligibility/#other
https://www.nybarexam.org/Eligible/Eligibility.htm
https://www.allaboutllms.co.uk/llm-advice/choosing-a-law-school/studying-in-the-usa
(edited 7 months ago)
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