Bar Examinations

Many foreign trained law students enter an LL.M. program with the goal of sitting for a state bar examination in the United States. The majority of states do not permit individuals to sit for their bar examination unless the individual holds a J.D. degree from a U.S. law school. There are a few notable exceptions. Two states that permit such individuals to sit for their bar examination with an LL.M. degree, if they meet certain other requirements, are New York and California. If you are interested in sitting for the bar examination of any state, you should contact the bar examiners of that state to determine your eligibility.

Please read over, and pay close attention to, the Foreign Evaluation Form timetable within this letter from the New York Board of Law Examiners.

Please be aware that admission into any of our LL.M. programs does not guarantee or in any way suggest eligibility to sit for any state's bar examination, including New York or California. Individuals are ultimately responsible for ensuring that their program of study fulfills all requirements for the state bar examination they select.

LLM Tracks (Non Bar Examination Track/Bar Examination Track)

Non Bar Examination Track

Intellectual Property LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills/Litigation Analysis-3 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), 3 courses or 7 credits in core courses and at least 13 credits in approved intellectual property courses.

Commerce & Technology LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills/Litigation Analysis-3 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), fulfill each core component and the balance of credits in approved commerce and technology courses.

International Criminal Law and Justice LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and a maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills -2 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), 3 core courses (Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure I and International Criminal Law Seminar) and the balance of credits in approved criminal law courses.

Bar Examination Track

Intellectual Property LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills/Litigation Analysis-3 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), 3 courses or 7 credits in core courses, Professional Responsibility (3 credits), 6 credits of subjects approved by NY bar examination and the balance of credits in approved intellectual property courses.

Commerce & Technology LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills/Litigation Analysis-3 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), fulfill each core component, Professional Responsibility (3 credits), 6 credits of subjects approved by NY bar examination and the balance of credits in approved commerce and technology courses.

International Criminal Law and Justice LL.M.

A student must take a minimum of 24 credits and maximum of 30 credits, including (Graduate Skills-2 credits, Introduction to American Legal Systems-2 credits), 3 core courses (Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure I and International Criminal Law Seminar), Professional Responsibility (3 credits), 6 credits of subjects approved by NY bar examination and the balance of credits in approved criminal law courses.

The New York Bar Examination

The majority of our international LL.M. graduates choose to sit for the New York Bar Examination. If you are considering taking this exam, you should carefully read the information on the official website of the New York Board of Law Examiners of the State of New York (BOLE), paying particular attention to the link titled, Foreign Legal Education. The New York Court of Appeals sets forth the rules for admission of foreign-trained attorneys. Generally speaking, a foreign-trained attorney may qualify to sit for the New York Bar Examination if the following conditions are met:

1. The applicant must hold a "Qualifying Degree." This means that the applicant must have "fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to the practice of law" in the foreign country. The "Qualifying Degree" must be in law and must be from a school that is accredited by the competent authority in the foreign country.
    
2. The applicant's period of law study must be substantively and durationally equivalent to the legal education provided by an ABA-approved school in the U.S. Most foreign-trained attorneys meet the first criteria, but not the second. However, the Court of Appeals provides a way to "cure" the deficiency in the second criteria, by way of a U.S. LL.M. degree (this provision is known as the "Cure" provision). The LL.M. degree can cure either a substantive or a durational deficiency (but not both), provided that the program of study meets certain requirements.
   
   It is important to note that the vast majority of applicants who are denied eligibility to sit for the New York Bar Examination are denied on the basis of their education in their home country, and not on the basis of their U.S. LL.M. degree (e.g., the applicant has not fulfilled some educational requirement for admission to the bar, or the applicant's program of study is both substantively and durationally insufficient, and thus cannot be remedied by the "Cure" provision). For this reason, if admission to the New York bar is important to you, you are advised to submit your Advance Evaluation of Eligibility in advance of applying to the LL.M. program.

The California Bar Examination

Our LL.M. program is not intended to meet the requirements to sit for the California Bar Examination and our course offerings may not satisfy the academic requirements of the California Bar. If you are considering applying to the California Bar, you should visit the website of the California bar examiners.