<p>I'm currently a student almost done with his undergraduate studies (in engineering).</p>
<p>I've wanted to study law since high school, and the T14 has been in my (not necessarily likely) dreams.</p>
<p>However, I've done some research on non-US schools, and I'm being more and more attracted by the programs offered by places like Cambridge, Oxford, McGill, and others. I'm only looking at English-speaking schools for now.</p>
<p>I know that Law starts at the undergraduate level for most countries outside of the US, but usually take the same amount of time as it would to get a JD.</p>
<p>Lets say, for instance, I study for 2 years for a BA at Cambridge, and then another one for an LLM. Will it be very difficult for me to move my career to the US and pass the bar exam?
Obviously there will be some difficulties like less recruitment opportunities, but</p>
<p>1) Are there any technical restrictions from me using a non-US law degree to receive accreditation practice in the US?</p>
<p>2) Will the actual practice of law (especially in things like case law) become prohibitively difficult?</p>
<p>I'm trying to keep my options open for now, but if anyone has any experience with this matter, please advice me.</p>
<p>In many states you may need to take an additional degree (usually LLM) to sit for the bar.</p>
<p>Apart from this, biglaw will tend to favor candidates who have attended US law schools. </p>
<p>Apart from this, please note that if you have a claim to European citizenship, becoming an English solicitor now means you can work anywhere in Europe. In any case, an English degree still offers opportunities abroad.</p>
<p>A Canadian law degree will allow you to write the bar in NY and MA upon graduation. Several U.S. large firms do OCIs at select Canadian schools, with U of Toronto having the highest number, although that isn’t the only way to secure a U.S. position. You mention McGill and only looking at English-speaking schools. For McGill law, you must have a solid knowledge of French. I don’t know what the process is for being accredited in the U.S. with a degree from the UK but I can tell you that in Canada, it is very difficult to do so.</p>
<p>Nothing is really that difficult to actually keep you from doing what you want. I’m finishing my LLB degree, which is an undergraduate degree in law -enough to get my license to practice-. I’m seriously thinking of changing my career path, because my heart’s somewhere else. Law is great, yet it’s kind of a narrow path -I know people will disagree with that-…but it’s just where I’m standing. Many fellow students are applying to T14 schools (and most will get accepted, as this has been the trend for the past years), also a couple are applying to Oxbridge (one is legacy, so I guess that’s a foot in), few are thinking of applying to schools in Canada and some others are looking into France/Spain.
Those going to the US for their LLM degree are planning to sit for bar, NY I heard. In the past, several students have successfully done so. I have a friend doing her LLM in USC and also hoping to sit for bar in Cali (she’s a resident there, don’t know if that matters). I don’t really know the restrictions for doing this, but my guess is if they can…so could you.
As for the academics, it’s true it takes as long as the JD. Actually I’m doing my LLB in four, but that’s because of my electives and generals… besides that, it’s law from the start to the end. The only real down side I’ve even heard of -of not going for law school in the states- is the recruitment opportunities. Period. Everything else, you can learn and get experience in. </p>
<p>You’ll need to take a very good bar review course for the state you choose, because there will be a lot of material you won’t learn–this is true even for law schools in the U.S., but it will be even more so for a foreign law school.</p>
<p>It is true that Cambridge has an accelerated 2 year LLB program for students who already have an undergraduate degree. However, this is not the case with other schools and you will have to do the regular 3 year program in any other school.
BTW what are the GPA requirements for that 2 year program ?</p>
<p>As you will see whether you can practice law in any particular state when your law degree is from a foreign country varies among the states. For some, you will never be able to practice law in the state because they require that you have graduated from an ABA approved law school. For others some further education is required. Others will accept those with foreign degrees only after you have already practice law for several years in another state. If you actually want to practice law in the US then the best route is an ABA approved law school in the US.</p>
<p>Alwaysamom, I was not aware of the French proficiency requirement. Took another look at their website and found it. Thanks for pointing it out!</p>
<p>Nerdycris, what country are you doing your LLB degree in? From context it seems like you’re in England, but you never really stated.</p>
<p>Overachiever 91, I’ve only done moderate research on Cambridge, however their prospectus and websites have led me to believe that the degree that is conferred upon you is a BA degree rather than an LLB: “Five degrees are available law… the B.A., LL.M., M.Litt, Ph.D. and LL.D” and “At Cambridge all first-degree courses, in whatever subject, lead to the B.A. Degree with Honours.” ([Courses</a> - Faculty of Law](<a href=“http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/courses/]Courses”>http://www.law.cam.ac.uk/courses/))</p>
<p>For the people that don’t know:
Applying as an affiliated applicant (as in, “Anyone from elsewhere who has what appears to the College to be a respectable academic qualification obtained after at least three years of full-time study, or the equivalent spread over a longer period of part-time study,”) will allow you to skip the first of three years in any Cambridge degree. However, Oxford, LSE, KCL, UCL, St. Andrews, Edinburgh, (and I’m assuming everything else) does not have a process for affiliated applicants.</p>
<p>From what I’ve read, there is no GPA requirement for affiliated status, but you are still subject to an individual faculty and/or college’s determination of “affiliated status” and a rigorous application process anyways.</p>
<p>Drusba: Thank you! That’s link has an incredible guide, and really made things clear for me. My main goal is to practice in California, as that is where I was born.</p>