Hello everyone, I would like to know if its possible for me to work as a lawyer in California with a UK Law degree. I’m portuguese but in September I’m starting college in the UK, my degree is MLaw Master of Law FT at the University of Westminster. If it is possible, I would like to know what to do, thank you very much.
Here’s some info on admission to the New York bar:
520.6 Study of law in foreign country; required legal education.
(a) General. An applicant who has studied in a foreign country may qualify to take the New York State bar examination by submitting to the New York State Board of Law Examiners satisfactory proof of the legal education required by this section.
(b) Legal education.
(1) The applicant shall show fulfillment of the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law in a country other than the United States by successful completion of a period of law study at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (d) and (e) of section 520.3 of this Part, in a law school or schools each of which, throughout the period of the applicant’s study therein, was recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country, or of a political subdivision thereof, as qualified and approved; and
(i) that such other country is one whose jurisprudence is based upon the principles of the English Common Law, and that the program and course of law study successfully completed by the applicant were the substantial equivalent of the legal education provided by an approved law school in the United States; or
(ii) if applicant does not meet the durational equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1) of this section but has at least two years of substantively equivalent education, or if applicant does not meet the substantive equivalency requirements of subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, that applicant has successfully completed a full-time or part-time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, which includes basic courses in American law, in an approved law school in the United States; or
(2) The applicant shall show admission to practice law in a country other than the United States whose jurisprudence is based upon principals of English Common Law, where admission was based upon a program of study in a law school and/or law office recognized by the competent accrediting agency of the government of such other country and which is durationally equivalent yet substantively deficient under subdivision (b)(1)(i) of this section, and that such applicant has successfully completed a full-time or part time program consisting of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, which includes basic courses in American law, in an approved law school in the United States.
© Proof required. The applicant shall submit to the New York State Board of Law Examiners such proof of compliance with the provisions of this section as the board may require.
And it is different for each state.
Thank you very much for your help! 
You might also consider getting an LLM from a U.S. accredited law school. I’ve seen that as a pathway too (don’t have any direct experience however).
I think the LLM gives you the extra year I think you may need with a UK degree.
…also assuming that you have the legal status to work: having a legal qualification is necessary to practice law, but you need citizenship, permanent residency (ie, Green Card) or a work visa to be employed.
Yeh, you should probably get a US LLM. Also, some states require a US law degree and/or a separate undergraduate degree. It is possible the LLM would help with both of those requirements. You would need to spend several months studying for the bar exam, as there are major differences from English law. US law also varies by state. Some states, such as New York and California, have especially difficult bar exams.