El Supremo

Hi everybody,

I currently work as a paralegal in the UK having studied a law degree and the LPC - I have yet to obtain a training contract. I'm beginning to lose faith in the UK system and I'm looking into practicing as a paralegal in the US with a view to eventually taking a state's bar exam(s) and becoming a fully qualified lawyer.

I'm a UK citizen without any ties with the US (i.e. no family) and I understand that to work there I'll have to obtain a permanent working visa which requires sponsorship from a prospective employer.

Is it difficult to achieve the above? Has anyone managed to land a job as either a paralegal or a lawyer in the US from the UK?

Any input or guidance would be gratefully received!

Jerseygirl

You've chosen one of the most difficult countries on the planet to move to. Take a read through this. If you fit into any of the catagories you may be in with a chance of moving to the US.

Bob

On the back of being a paralegal, probably slim to none...being a lawyer without specialist skills, slim to none.

Depending on the state, you'd probably need to retrain from scratch, only a couple of states would allow you as a qualified UK solicitor sit a bar exam to practice in their state, CA and NY? I can't remember, but there aren't many.

Best bet and most realistic, the long haul, getting specialist knowledge and working for a firm with a US presence who would be willing to transfer you.

Derrygal

Unfortunately there are a lot of unemployed lawyers in the US. My daughter is one of them. She has given up trying to find legal work here in Ohio and is now back in college studying for a degree in the healthcare field.

Scouse Express

Canada, Australia, New Zealand & now the United States????


Around The World In 80 Days............


Jim.

Rete

I was just going to ask why would an attorney work as a paralegal? Duh!

In the last few years, I have seen just this happen to some attorneys when firms have downsized departments.