danigirl85

Hi,

I was wondering if there is anyone out there in a similar situation as me??? I have a LLB (hons) Law degree from a UK university and was going to to start the LPC this September but, this isn't what I really want to do. I'd love to be an Attorney in NY (Mental Health Law) and I'm thinking about taking the NY Bar Exam after completing the Bar/Bri course with the CLT in London (although i'll be taking it as a home study program as I currently live in Wales!) This is a big step, however, and Im just looking for, I guess, some reassurance from someone who has already summoned the courage and take this big step!

Anyone from the UK with a Law degree who has done / thinking of doing the NY Bar and now works in NY???

Thanks!

penguinsix

Hi

The rules on the Bar Exam are generally US-ABA accredited law school for a JD degree. New York allows LLBs to study for a year in the US in specific classes and obtain an LLM and then take the bar, and they allow a few LLBs from specific schools to take the bar (but only certain schools, last I checked). This is pretty good rundown but I'm not sure how accurate it is:

http://www.malet.com/MSG%202008/Articles/london.htm

That said, even if you did take the bar, few firms would want you. Law firms have gone through massive layoffs and there are thousands of American JDs on the street, and more than a few UK attorneys with JDs who are unemployed on the street. To the law firms you'll have to make the case that your 4 years of university level education is more valuable than the 7 years of the unemployed JDs + whatever work experience they have and that you possess a certain something that is going to be valuable to their specific firm (that firm does a lot of legal work in the UK or something)

So, if you took this step, you have to jump the following hoops:

a) be qualified to take the US Bar with whatever degree (LLB, LLM)
b) pass the bar
c) find a firm willing to hire you
d) assuming you are NOT a US citizen or in possession of a visa, you'll have to find a law firm that is willing to sponsor you for a H1 visa (which mean the firm has to pay about $5,000 in fees to prove they need you, specifically, because there isn't a qualified American amongst the 1,000s of unemployed attorneys to do the job).

Sorry to be so blunt, but there are quite a few hurdles.

Bob

There are also quite a few old threads worth searching out for good general info.

Welcome to BE though, but unfortunately being a lawyer really isn't all that special in the land of immigration or job hunting.

dbj1000

WTF?!?

Are you insane?! Are you honestly saying that America has enough lawyers.

That's madness. Insanity. Are you some kind of Socialist Pinko Commie?

danigirl85

Thanks for the replies, guys! As hard as it is going to be (and I know it's gonna be tough) but, I'm determined to make it as a NY Lawyer. I haven't come this far just to let a few hurdles get in my way. Never give up on your dream right?

dbj1000

Come this far? Haven't you just finished your degree?

danigirl85

I have my LLB Law degree and LLM (Masters) in Legal Aspects of Medical Practice too. It's mental health law that I'm interested in and aswell as studying for my LLM, I've been working in a psych unit for 2 years to get some experience of mental illness.

dbj1000

Are New Yorkers significantly more insane than people elsewhere in the world, or is it simply that their psychoses are more interesting?

Manc

what's the difference between New York and London?

I mean really?

penguinsix

The other rub is that most mental health lawyers tend to be employed by government agencies / social services / hospitals, which tend to either be government run, union dominated, or low on funds (or all three). As such there are few funds available to sponsor you for a visa, and little political desire to do so ("You mean you hired a foreigner to do the job an unemployed American should be doing"). It is not going to happen.

You'll have to find a private, well-funded firm or group to do the sponsorship, and it's not just a hurdle it is more of a brick wall.

Have you thought of coming over to get your JD? That would be the easiest path to the US and to find a firm willing to hire you (or an American to marry, the easiest and most-often used path to a visa)

sleepysnooze

Sorry to be blunt, but as I understand it, its not going to happen straight away no matter how much you want it. Its a bit more than a few hurdles.

I've completed my LLB as well (technically BA as its from Oxbridge) and was considering doing the same thing as you.

Whilst passing the NY Bar exam qualifies you to practice in NY, you won't be able to get a job. Study ingfor it only takes a couple of months: the value of the Bar exam as your only knowledge of NY law will be treated with scepticism. If you plan to go straight into the US, you will realistically need to do a JD or a LLM relevant to US law. Remember that you will be competing with Americans who have done a JD.

Importantly, you haven't done a Training Contract. The JD includes the vocational aspect of law. The LLB does not. Young US lawyers are expected to hit the ground running: they don't have the LPC or Training Contracts. You don't get the vocational aspect from the LLM, hence the need for the LPC and a TC. You would need to do a TC over here to be on the same footing as Americans.

As others mentioned, you would struggle to get a visa. Even if you found a firm willing to cough up a couple of thousand dollars to sponsor you through the process.

The only direct route I can see for you would be being headhunted because you are a expert in a particular area of medical law; but I don't think this is realistic unless you are really exceptional.

If you want to go over to the US, I think another approach is needed. You could work for a US firm in London and attempt to get a transfer. A intra-company transfer is a easier route to a visa; and working at a US firm will probably give you the experience of involvement on US deals that would be needed in addition to the bar exam. If a shorter stay would do, if you get a training contract with one of the commercial firms, you may well get a chance to spend 6months of that in the States.

So no real chance of doing it immediately, the Bar exam by itself is not enough. But you could do it down the line if you play your cards right - just be sure to try and get involvement with US based deals