Untitled Document

Chart VII: FOREIGN LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES

(For further clarification , consult supplemental information following chart.)

State or Jurisdiction

Are the graduates of foreign law schools eligible to take the bar examination under the rules in your jurisdiction?

Yes...............No

Are graduates of foreign law schools eligible for admission without examination under the rules in your jurisdiction?

Yes...............No

Does your jurisdiction recognize with regularity the sufficiency of a legal education received at any particular foreign school?

Yes...............No

If a foreign law school graduate obtains a graduate law degree from an ABA-approved school, is the graduate then eligible to take the bar exam?

Yes...............No

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

..................................................X

...................................................X

......................................................X

.......................................................X

......................................................X

..................................................X

...................................................X

.....................................................X

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

DIST. OF COLUMBIA

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

HAWAII

................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

.......................................................X

........................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

.......................................................X

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

............................................X

.............................................X

..............................................X

..................................................X

.................................................X

..................................................X

.................................................X

...................................................X

.....................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

......................................................X

LOUISIANA

MAINE

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

MINNESOTA

.............................................X

...............................................X

..............................................X

.................................................X

..................................................X

.......................................................X

........................................................X

.......................................................X

......................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

......................................................X..

....................................................X

.......................................................X

MISSISSIPPI

MISSOURI

MONTANA

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

............................................X

..........................................X

...........................................X

..............................................X

...............................................X

................................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

......................................................X

.....................................................X

.......................................................X

........................................................X

.......................................................X

NEW JERSEY

NEW MEXICO

NEW YORK

NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH DAKOTA

OHIO

..............................................X

................................................X

...................................................X

.....................................................X

.......................................................X

......................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH DAKOTA

..............................................X

...............................................X

................................................X

..................................................X

....................................................X

..................................................X

...................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

.....................................................X

.......................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

.....................................................X

....................................................X

.....................................................X

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

UTAH

VERMONT

VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON

................................................X

..................................................X

...............................................X

..................................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

...................................................X

..................................................X

...................................................X

.....................................................X

......................................................X

WEST VIRGINIA

WISCONSIN

WYOMING

...................................................X

.........................................X

........................................X

.........................................X

...................................................X

....................................................X

......................................................X

.................................................X

................................................X

GUAM

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

PUERTO RICO

VIRGIN ISLANDS

.............................................X

X

..........................X

.........................................X

..........................................X

........................X

................................................X

.................................................X

..................................................X

.................................................X

...............................................X

................................................X

*Contact the Clerk's Office of the Supreme Court of Virginia.

Are the graduates of foreign law schools eligible to take the bar examination under the rules in your jurisdiction?

Alaska .........................Applicant must graduate from school in which principles of English law are taught, must submit proof such school meets ABA standards, and must complete not less than one academic year at ABA-approved school, including not less than one course in both U.S. constitutional law and federal civil procedure.

California............................Foreign law school graduates must request individual evaluation to determine legal education equivalency.

Colorado.............................Applicants legally trained in an English-speaking, common law nation may petition to have the Bar Committee determine whether their education is equivalent to that of an ABA-approved law school. If so, the applicant may take the exam.

Connecticut..........................With additional education at ABA-approved law school.See Chart III.

District of Columbia.............Applicant may be permitted to take bar examination upon succesful completation of 26 semester hours of study at an ABA-approved law school: the semester hours must be in subjects covered in the bar examination. Applicant may be admitted without examination.See explanation on page 46.

Hawaii.................Applicant must be admitted to practice and in good standing before highest court in foreign country where English common law is the basis of jurisprudence and where English is the language of instruction and practice in the courts, and must have actively practiced for five of past six years prior to filing the application for admission by examination.

Idaho...........................A foreign applicant may apply for permission to take the bar exam and for admission on the same terms and conditions as a student or an attorney applicant.

Louisiana...................Applicant who has graduated with degree of Juris Doctor or equivalent must, prior to making application for admission, obtain a certificate of equivalency. Application must be filed with Committee on Bar Admissions, which shall, by lot, select the names of three of the four ABA-approved law schools in Louisiana. Deans of law schools shall designate a member of their respective faculties to sit on a panel which shall determine whether legal education of applicant is equivalent to that of a graduate of an ABA-approved law school.

Maine................Applicant must have graduated from a foreign law school with a legal education which, in the Board's opinion, is equivalent to that provided in those law schools accredited by the ABA. Each request is handled on a case-by -case basis.

Maryland.................Provided they have taken and passed a bar exam in another U.S. jurisdiction and the Board waives requirement of graduation from an ABA-approved law school.

Massachusetts...............Not eligible but may permitted under Rule 3:01, 3.4with further legal studies, as designed by the BBE at ABA-approved law schools.

Nevada......................Not without petitioning for exemption.

New Hampshire..........In certain cases under new amended Rule 42(4)(b).

New Mexico...............Applicant may take the exam if he/she is licensed in another state within the United States and has practiced four of six years prior to application.

New York.................Applicant must be complete a period of law study equivalent in duration to that specified in New York rules in law school recognized by competent accrediting agency of the government of such foreign country. From English common-law jurisdictions, program of study must be qualitative equivalent of legal education at an approved law school.If it is not, applicant must: (a) complete full- or part-time program of a minimum of 24 semester hours in an approved law school in the United States. Applicants from non-common law jurisdictions must furnish proof of (a) above.

North Carolina...........If law school is approved by North Carolina State Bar Council. Effective August 1, 1995, all law schools must be ABA-approved. As of January 1996, an applicant who was educationally eligible prior to August 1, 1995 remains so.

Ohio........................If an applicant's undergraduate or legal education was not received in the United States, such education must be evaluated. A $150 evaluation fee must accompany applicant's application to register as candidate, for admission to practice of law. If applicant's legal education was not received in the United States, application shall not be processed until such education is approved by the Supreme Court.

Oregon..............Applicant must be admitted to practice in country where common law of England is the basis of its jurisprudence, be a graduate of a law school equivalent to a law school approved by the ABA, where requirements for admission to the bar are substantially equivalent to those of Oregon, and must have been actively, substantially and continuosly engaged in the practice of law at least three of the last five years immediately preceding the taking of the bar exam.

Pennsylvania................Applicant must have completed law study in a foreign law school and have been admitted and in a good standing at the bar of a foreign jurisdiction.Applicant must also complete 30 credit hours taken in subjects specified in Rule 205(b) at an ABA-approved law school.

Puerto Rico...............Applicant must prove a study equivalent to that required by law school accreditated by the ABA, Council of Higher Education, or Supreme Court and taken and show proof of having taken five courses (constitutional law, administrative law, civil procedure, criminal procedure , and evidence) in an ABA-approved law school.

Tennessee..................Applicant must prove undergraduate and law school education are the equivalent of that required by Tennessee rules.

Texas...........................A graduate of a foreign noncorrespondance law school accredited by its jurisdiction can take the TBE if (s)he holds a valid law license issued by that jurisdiction under two scenarios: 1) (s)he has 5 out of last 7 years of lawful practice and either demonstrates that the law of the foreign nation is comparable to that of Texas OR holds an LL.M from an ABA-approved law school:2) (s)he has 3 out of last 5 years of lawful practice, demonstrates that the law of the foreign nation is comparable to that Texas, AND holds an LL.M from an ABA-approved law school.

Vermont.................If applicant has been admitted to practice before highest court of a foreign country, which is a common-law jurisdiction. Board may allow credit for such study as it deems proper, and applicant must pursue the study of law in Vermont for at least two years immediately preceding admission, under the supervision of an attorney who has practiced at least three years in Vermont.

Virginia................Applicant who has received a portion of his legal education in a foreign law school and has received a degree other than J.D. or LL.B from ABA-approved law school must prove by certificate from the dean of an ABA-approved law school in Virginia that the foreign legal education togheter with that degree from the ABA-approved law school is equivalent to that required for an LL.B or J.D. at such dean's law school.

Washington............Must practice 3 out of last 5 years or partecipate in the law clerk program.

West Virginia..........If applicant is a law school graduate from a foreign country where the common law of England exists as the basis of its jurisprudence; the educational requirements for admission in said country are substantially the same as in West Virginia; and applicant ha successfully completed 30 credit hours of basic courses at an ABA-approved school a graduate of a foreign law school may take the West Virginia bar exam.

Are graduates of foreign law schools eligible for admission without examination under the rules in your jurisdiction?

District of Columbia.........If they have been a member for 5 years of a court of general jurisdiction of any U.S. state or territory.

Massachusetts.................On compliance with conditions of Rule 301, subsection 6.2, the BBE, in its discretion, may excuse applicant from taking a regular law examination and permit applicant to take attorney's examination.

Ohio..............If an applicant's undergraduate or legal education was not received in the United States, such education must be evaluated. A 150$ evaluation fee must accompany the applicant's application for admission without examination.If the applicant's legal education was not received in the United States, the application shall not be processed until such education is approved by the Supreme Court.

Utah..........Applicants who have not graduated from an ABA-accredited law school, but who have graduated from foreign law school in a country where principles of English common law form the basis for the country's jurisprudence, may be recommended for admission to the Bar under the following conditions: Have (a) been admitted to practice in jurisdiction where applicant attended law school, and (b) successfully completed, within twenty-four (24) consecutive months, not less than twenty-four (24) semester hours, or their equivalent in quarter hours, at an ABA-approved law school, including not less than one course each in constitutional law, civil procedure, criminal procedure , legal ethics and evidence.

Vermont...............If college is approved by Court, each request is reviewed individually first by the Board.

Virginia...............If they meet requirements for attorneys who wish to be admitted by reciprocity. (See page 47).

Washington.................A foreign law school applicant who has been admitted to practice by examination in any jurisdiction where the common law of England is the basis of its jurisprudence and who has actively practiced law for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the filing of the application may qualify to take the bar exam.

Does your jurisdiction recognize with regularity the sufficiency of a legal education received at any particular foreign school?

California...........Canadian law schools, member of the faculty of which are eligible for the membership in the AALS as Canadian Associates.

Colorado.............Typically, graduates of Canadian law school are allowed to sit for the bar examination.

Maine.................Handled on a case-by-case basis.

Massachusetts............Canadian Law Schools: University of Alberta; University of British Columbia; University of Calgary; Dalhouise University;University of Manitoba; McGill University; University of New Brunswick; University of Ottawa; Queen's University;University of Toronto;University of Victoria; University of Western Ontario; York University (Osgood Hall Law School).

Montana.................A graduate of a foreign, non-ABA-approved law school can petition the Montana Supreme Court for leave to take Montana bar exam. No history to date of what applicant might expect.

New York.................Graduates of three-year programs at Oxford, Cambridge, or University of London may be admitted to the bar exam.

Rhode Island............Candidates who are graduates of a law school in a country other than the United States will be required to demonstrate to the Board that said law school and further professional training accompanying the same meet the standards of law schools accredited or approved by the American Bar Association accredited law school certify that said foreign law school meets this standard. Board may require, in its discretion, further training in an American Bar Association approved law school.

If a foreign law school graduate obtains a graduate law degree from an ABA-approved school, is the graduate then eligible to take the bar exam?

Arizona...........Generally, if applicant obtains an LL.M. or M.C.L. from an ABA-approved school, applicant is eligible for exam.

California.........Applicant might be credited for one year of law study and might receive exemption from First-Year Law Students' Examination; however, applicant must petition for a determination for acceptance of foreign law study toward the legal education requirement.

Connecticut.............Applicant who did not receive first degree in law from an ABA-approved school may submit credentials to committee. If accepted, committee will permit applicant to sit for exam upon receipt of LL.M. from approved school. Legal education obtained in countries whose legal system is based on English common law is required. All other foreign-trained applicants must obtain a J.D. or LL.B. from ABA-approved law school.

Kansas...............Applicants who have not received an LL.B. or J.D. degree from an ABA-approved school but who have received LL.M. degrees must submit transcripts of all legal education and prelegal education to the Board of Admissions for review.

Massachusetts...........Graduate law degrees do not per se establish eligibility.

Michigan..................If applicant receives an LL.M. from an approved law school, the J.D. or LL.B. need not be from an approved school.

New York..............Applicants who have the durational equivalent of the legal education required at an ABA-approved law school and (a) do not have the qualitative equivalent in a common law jurisdiction or (b) are from a non-common law jurisdiction must complete (24) credits at an approved law school in the United States.

North Carolina............If ABA-approved school accepted applicant's work from the foreign law school, applicant would be eligible to take bar exam.

Texas ........................A graduate of a foreign non-correspondence law school accredited by its jurisdiction can take the TBE if (s)he holds a valid law license issued by that jurisdiction under two scenarios:1) (s)he has 5 out of last 7 years of lawful practice and either demonstrates that the law of the foreign nation is comparable to that of Texas OR holds an LL.M. from an ABA-approved law school; 2) (s)he has 3 out of last 5 years of lawful practice, demonstrates tha the law of the foreign nation is comparable to that of Texas, AND holds an LL.M. from an ABA-approved law school.

Virginia..................Applicant who has received a portion of legal education in a foreign law school and has received a degree from an ABA-approved law school other than an LL.B. or J.D. must furnish proof by certificate from the dean of an ABA-approved law school in Virginia that the foreign legal education togheter with the approved law school degree is equivalent to that required for an LL.B. or J.D. in such dean's law school.