LLB (Graduate Entry)

Can a two year LLB holder sits for the California Bar Exam?

 

I'm not qualified to practise law anywhere, Sam - and that's a good thing :smile: But I am familiar with the degree program you mention - and from what I know of it, the 2-year LLB qualifies one - not to practise law - but to enter one of the courses that leads to UK practice:

(A) Legal Practice Course (LPC) for solicitors or,
(B) Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for barristers.

Somehow, I wouldn't think this non-U.S. law degree by itself would suffice for the California Bar exam, especially when it doesn't per se lead directly to bar qualification in its own country. I understand this course has quite a few Canadian students (I live in Canada) but IIRC they have to complete around 6 or 8 additional (quite expensive) Law School courses in Canada before they can be considered for Bar admission.

I believe practicing lawyers from abroad have an easier time of it here - but grads fresh from the LL.B. have to take the extra courses.

But hey - I've been wrong before --and in California, practically anything can happen. :smile: I await the experts...

Johann

 

Hello Johann,

Thank you for your detailed answer. How about a 2-year LLB + an LLM approved by the ABA?

 

I was just about to get there -working on it when you called. :smile:

..and if the experts don't show up in time, you can always ask the California Bar Examiners... The State Bar of California

And if the answer is "no" then there are schools that will teach a US program to grads of foreign law schools, resulting in a degree that enables them to write US bar exams. The one I looked at taught a 100% distance LLM that claimed to satisfy requirements to take Bar exams - I'm not sure if it was in all States or not. Just google "foreign law degree + US bar exam" or something like that. You'll find several, I'm sure.

I think it might be the old story - more money to spend = more likelihood of success. I'd ask the CBE first - they can tell you exactly what you need, or don't. As many say in California - ¡buena suerte! :smile:

Johann

 

Thanks for your prompt response.

 

The California Bar says the following about foreign law degrees:

Would a 2-year LLB be evaluated as "equivalent" to a 3-year ABA JD ? I would ask the California Bar.

The ABA does not approve LLM degrees*; they only approve JD degrees. So the closest thing would be an LLM at a law school with an ABA-approved JD program. Would this satisfy the California Bar's requirement for "a year of law study at an ABA approved law school"? I would ask the California Bar.

*Exception: the ABA does approve the LLM program at the US Army's Judge Advocate General School, but this is a specialized military-only school that does not offer the JD.

 

Hello Caldog,

(B) Obtain from a credential evaluation service approved by the Committee
a certificate that the applicant’s first degree in law meets the educational
requirements for admission to practice law in the foreign state or country
in which it was obtained.

a 2 year LLB is a qualifying law degree in the U.K. Therefore, based on the above rule, a 2 year LLB should satisfy the legal education requirements.

Thanks,
Sam

 

Does it really meet the "educational requirements for admission to the practice of law" though? What it qualifies one for in the UK is solely admission to further courses needed - the LPC or BPTC. Only after completion of one of those courses can the person be admitted to practice of law.

Not trying to rain on anyone's parade - and I don't know at all how the ABA or CalBar Examiners would see it. But if anybody's gonna split hairs, it'll likely be a body composed entirely of lawyers. :smile: And I'm pretty sure if they see there's a genuine loophole for a two-year law degree holder --they'll do their level best to close it pronto.

Anyone sure, either way?

Johann

 

BTW - It's interesting, here. I've heard of 18-year-old Canadians going to the U.K. to earn law degrees. An LL.B. can be undertaken there with no prior University degree required. The idea is to spend 3 years there (no prior degree = no accelerated program) - then return to Canada and qualify for practice here - not inexpensive or easy - but doable. They save themselves much of the cost/time of earning a Bachelor's degree in Canada - something that is generally mandatory before Law School. (Only exception to that requirement I know of is a program in Saskatchewan that is only available to Native Canadians, i.e. First Nations.)

Johann

 

The more detailed guidelines here suggest that a 2 year LLB + a one-year LLM from a US school with an ABA-approved JD program would be bar-qualifying in California.

A one-year LLM for foreign-trained lawyers currently runs $47,500 (tuition only) at UC Hastings.

The bar pass rate for people in the "Foreign Educated/JD Equivalent + One Year US Education" category appears to be unusually low. It was 15.6 % for first-time takers in July 2013, and 8.9 % in July 2012.

 

Uh-huh. What I said. Looks like the magic amount here is around $47,500. And that will give a 15.6% chance of first-time success.
Thanks, CalDog. As usual, you have dispelled the darkness.

Johann

 

I don't know what the California Bar Examiners might say but my own advice is, if you want to be an American lawyer, get an American J.D. The English LL.B. is NOT equivalent.

Since these state in question is California there are many decent D/L options.