The New York Bar is the jurisdiction of choice for most of our foreign trained attorneys. Most other state jurisdictions have requirements for the exam that either preclude or make it very difficult for the foreign trained attorney to be eligible to sit for the exam. Please note that foreign-educated law graduates cannot waive into the D.C. bar based on membership in the New York Bar or any other state's bar UNTIL they have been members in good standing of another U.S. bar for the 5 years immediately preceding application to the D.C. bar exam.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS: There are separate rules for common law and civil law graduates educated outside the U.S.
   • Some common-law educated graduates establish eligibility based on their LL.B. degree or its equivalent.
   • Some common-law & all civil law graduates establish eligibility based on prior law study PLUS U.S. LL.M.

If you must establish eligibility through your U.S. LL.M., during your LL.M. you will need to take 20 credits of “professional law subjects at Georgetown Law.

LAWG or LAWJ courses are “professional law subjects.” Economic Reasoning and the Law, Accounting Concepts for Lawyers, & Externships are fine.

EXCLUDES courses not numbered LAWG or LAWJ (e.g., Main Campus courses) used for the LL.M. and/or “independent study” (our Graduate Independent Research).

The 20 credits must include two “basic courses in American law”: see the Georgetown Law list of courses approved by the New York Court of Appeals as meeting this requirement at http://www.law.georgetown.edu/international/documents/Bar-approvedcoursesNYMarch2006edited2008.pdf.

Study must be done in a “program of study, ” i.e., during the LL.M. degree, not later.

ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EXAM: Foreign educated law graduates must submit the on-line “Request for Evaluation of Foreign Legal Credentials” (found on their website; http://www.nybarexam.org/foreign/foreignlegaleducation.htm) along with “documentary proof” to determine whether you are eligible for the exam. You must submit this form before you can submit your application to sit for the NY Bar Exam. The deadline for applying for the July exam is April 1 - 30th, and the February exam is November 1 - 30th.

Documents needed to Establish Eligibility:

(a) Official transcripts from every law school attended sent to the Board directly from the issuing law school. Submit a translation if transcript is not in English. If the transcript does not clearly state the degree awarded and/or the date such degree was awarded, furnish a certified copy of your degree certificate.

(b) Proof of fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in the foreign country.

     (1) If you are admitted to practice law in a foreign country, attach a copy of your admission certificate, OR

     (2) If you are not admitted to practice law in a foreign country, submit proof of the educational requirements for admission to practice law in your country and proof that you have fulfilled these requirements.

(c) Accreditation. You may be asked to submit a written statement from the competent accrediting agency of your foreign government that the law school or schools you attended were recognized as qualified and approved throughout your period of study. The BOLE already has this information for many foreign law schools; they will notify you by email after your submit your “evaluation request” whether you will need to submit this, or whether they already have it.

 

****This flyer is prepared for general information only. Only the New York Board of Law Examiners can confirm your eligibility for the exam. All information subject to change.****

Revised April 8, 2011 (mbj)