Alabama Applicant must meet and show proof of the following requirements: (a) that the foreign law school from which the applicant graduated was approved in the foreign jurisdiction where it is located; (b) that the applicant has been admitted to the practice of law in the jurisdiction in which that university or college is located; and (c) at least one of the following: (i) that the law degree program completed by the applicant includes a substantial component of English common law; or (ii) that the applicant has satisfactorily completed at least 24 semester hours of legal subjects covered by the bar examination in regular law school classes, under ABA standards; or (iii) that the applicant has been admitted to the practice of law before the court of highest jurisdiction in a US jurisdiction, has been continuously engaged in the active practice of law for at least 3 years in that jurisdiction, and is a member in good standing of the bar of that jurisdiction.
Alaska A graduate of a foreign law school in which the principles of English law are taught may be eligible to take the bar exam if they submit proof that 1) the law school from which they graduated meets the ABA’s standards for approval; and 2) they have successfully completed 1 year at an ABA-approved law school, including successful completion of 1 course in US Constitutional Law and 1 course in US Civil Procedure, or is a member in good standing of the bar of 1 or more states, territories, or the District of Columbia and was admitted to the bar of that state, territory, or the District of Columbia after written examination.
California Foreign law school graduates must request individual evaluation to determine legal education equivalency. Graduates from foreign law schools may qualify to take the California bar exam if they obtain an LLM degree or complete an additional 1 year of law study at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school which includes a certain number of credits in bar examination subject matter. Foreign-educated law students who did not graduate are not eligible to take the exam and are required to either graduate with a JD degree at an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school or complete 4 years of law study at a law school registered in California and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Exam. Foreign law school graduates who are admitted to the active practice of law in good standing in their countries do not have to complete any additional law study to qualify to take the bar exam.
Colorado Foreign law school graduates must request individual evaluation to determine eligibility to sit for the UBE in Colorado or transfer an eligible UBE score. A foreign-educated applicant has three pathways to eligibility: (1) applicant’s foreign legal education is based on principles of English common law that is substantially equivalent in duration to a JD education program in the US, is in good standing and authorized to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction or another US jurisdiction, and has been actively and substantially engaged in the lawful practice of law for at least 3 of the last 5 years; (2) applicant’s foreign education is based on principles of English common law that is substantially equivalent in duration to a JD education program in the US and has completed an LLM degree at an ABA-accredited law school that meets certain curricular requirements; and (3) applicant’s foreign legal education is not based on principles of English common law but is substantially equivalent in duration to a JD education program in the US, is in good standing and authorized to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction or another US jurisdiction, and has completed an LLM degree at an ABA-accredited law school that meets certain curricular requirements.
Connecticut Foreign law school graduates must submit a petition for determination on foreign education and receive Bar Examining Committee approval prior to submitting an application for admission by examination, admission without examination, or admission by UBE score transfer. The foreign education must be substantially equivalent in duration to the legal education provided by an ABA-approved law school. Foreign-educated applicants must complete an LLM degree program meeting specific requirements at an ABA- or Committee-approved law school prior to admission. An applicant who otherwise does not meet the educational requirements may be eligible to sit for the exam if they meet certain conditions. Conditions include admission before the highest court of original jurisdiction in a US state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a US District Court for 10 or more years, good standing in such jurisdiction, and active practice of law in that jurisdiction for 5 of the last 7 years.
Delaware Additional requirements include that the applicant (1) is a member in good standing of the Bar of another state, and the Board finds, in its discretion, is qualified by reason of education and experience to take the Delaware Bar Examination (for the purposes of this section, “state” includes the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico); or
(2) has been regularly graduated with the combination of degrees in legal education that the Board, in its discretion, determines is substantially equivalent to a juris doctor degree from an Approved Law School, including both (A) a degree in legal education from an institution outside the United States, and (B) an LLM degree that meets the requirements of the Board Rules from a law school which at the time of conferring such degree was an Approved Law School.
District of Columbia Foreign law school graduates must have 3 years in good standing in another US state or territory. Foreign law school graduates with less than 3 years of admission in good standing in another US state or territory must present the transcripts from their foreign law degree for evaluation to determine whether it is a qualifying degree, and must also complete a minimum of 26 semester hours of study in a law school that at the time of such study was ABA-approved. All such semester hours shall be earned in single-subject courses in areas of law that are substantially tested on the Uniform Bar Examination. Classes that began before March 1, 2016, will count if they were in subjects tested on the DC bar exam through February 2016.
Florida Applicants who have an LLM from an ABA-accredited law school that meets the board’s curricular criteria may, after 2 years active practice in another jurisdiction (District of Columbia or other states in the United States or in federal courts in the United States or its territories, possessions, or protectorates) in which the applicant has been duly admitted, file a representative compilation of work product for evaluation by the board. If the applicant does not have a qualifying LLM, the applicant must first practice law for 5 years in another jurisdiction as described above before being eligible to submit a representative compilation of work product for review.
Georgia A lawyer educated at a law school outside of the United States may meet the educational requirements and be eligible to take the exam if the foreign-educated lawyer graduated from a foreign law school that meets the requirements of the Rules; is authorized to practice law in the foreign jurisdiction; and has been awarded, by an ABA-approved law school, an LLM that meets the Curricular Criteria for LLM Program for the Practice of Law in the United States adopted by the Board of Bar Examiners.
Hawaii An attorney admitted to practice and in good standing before the highest court in a foreign country where English common law is the basis of that country’s jurisprudence and where English is the language of instruction and practice in the courts of that jurisdiction shall be eligible for examination and admission if they present satisfactory proof to have actively practiced law in that jurisdiction for 5 of the 6 years immediately prior to application.
Illinois The foreign law school graduate must have been licensed to practice in the country in which the degree was conferred and/or in a US jurisdiction for a minimum of 5 years; the lawyer must be in good standing as an attorney or equivalent in that country or US jurisdiction where admitted; during each of no fewer than 5 of the 7 years immediately prior to making application in Illinois, the lawyer must have verifiably devoted an annual minimum of 1,000 hours to the practice of law in such country and/or US jurisdiction where licensed; and applicant must achieve passing score on MPRE and meet character and fitness standards.
Kentucky An attorney who is a graduate of a foreign law school can apply for an education evaluation to determine if applicant’s legal education is substantially equivalent to the Kentucky law school education. If the law school is approved, the applicant may sit for the bar exam if he/she has been actively and substantially engaged in the practice of law for 3 of the last 5 years.
Louisiana Foreign attorneys can apply to take the bar exam but must first have an educational equivalency evaluation conducted and complete 14 hours at an American ABA-accredited law school.
Maine Must satisfy requirements of Regulation for Determining Equivalency of Foreign Legal Education and have practiced for 3 years in the jurisdiction where licensed.
Maryland A graduate of a foreign law school may qualify for a waiver to take the UBE in Maryland if they have been admitted by examination in another US jurisdiction OR has completed an additional law degree at an ABA-approved law school where at least 26 credit hours from among the subjects tested on the UBE are earned in the course of completing the degree, except that the applicant may substitute up to 3 credit hours of Professional Responsibility in place of an equivalent number of credit hours of UBE course work.
Massachusetts A graduate of a foreign law school (other than prequalified Canadian law schools, as listed in Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners Rule VI) may be permitted to file a petition for admission by exam after completing further legal studies designated by the Board of Bar Examiners at an ABA-approved law school or a law school approved by Massachusetts statute. In order to petition for admission in Massachusetts, foreign-educated attorneys must prove current eligibility to practice law in the foreign jurisdiction and must obtain, in writing, a determination of educational sufficiency from the Board of Bar Examiners.
Minnesota Foreign law school graduates who 1) have a bachelor’s degree from an institution recognized by a foreign equivalent to the United States Department of Education, 2) have a JD degree or equivalent from a law school attended following completion of undergraduate studies, and 3) are licensed to practice and have practiced for 5 of the last 7 years in another US jurisdiction may sit for the examination. An applicant who has been licensed for more than 10 years in any US jurisdiction may apply under any rule type.
Missouri Graduates who have passed the bar exam in another state and hold an active law license are eligible to take the bar exam with either (1) full-time practice for 3 of the 5 years preceding application or (2) completion of 24 credit hours in residence at an ABA-approved law school within the 3 years prior to application or (3) completion of an LLM degree from an ABA-approved law school. Graduates who are not licensed in another state must be admitted to practice law in the foreign country where the foreign law degree was conferred and be in good standing with either (1) full-time practice for 3 of the 5 years preceding the application or (2) completion of 24 credit hours in residence at an ABA-approved law school within the 3 years prior to application or (3) completion of an LLM degree from an ABA-approved law school.
Nebraska An LLB from an ABA-approved law school will be accepted to qualify a foreign law school graduate to sit for the Nebraska bar examination.
New Hampshire Graduate must be legally trained in common law, and a determination of educational equivalency is required. Graduate must be a member in good standing in home jurisdiction or in another state, after being admitted by exam.
New Mexico Graduates of foreign law schools, including correspondence and online law schools, may be eligible for admission if they meet all other qualifications and are licensed and practice in another state for four of the preceding six years prior to the filing date of the application.
New York Applicant must complete period of law study equivalent in duration and substance to that specified in New York rules in law school recognized by competent accrediting agency of the government of such foreign country. All applicants must have their transcripts evaluated by the Board of Law Examiners to determine if further study is required in the form of a qualifying LLM degree from an ABA-approved law school in the United States.
North Carolina The applicant must meet the requirements set out in at least one of the following paragraphs: (1) hold an LLB or JD degree from a law school approved by the ABA at the time the degree was conferred; (2) have received prior to August 1995 an LLB, JD, LLM, or SJD degree from a law school approved by the council of the North Carolina State Bar at the time the degree was conferred; (3) have received prior to August 2005 an LLM or SJD degree from a law school that was approved by the ABA at the time the degree was conferred; or (4) hold an LLB or JD degree from a law school that was approved for licensure purposes in another state of the United States or the District of Columbia and be licensed in such state or District.
Ohio If an applicant’s legal education was not received in the United States, the education must be evaluated and approved by the Supreme Court as equivalent to ABA-approved law school education. For equivalency, an applicant must show successful completion of 30 credit hours at an ABA-approved law school in addition to a foreign law degree showing at least 3 years of full-time study. The registration application may not be processed until the education is approved by the Supreme Court. At least 3 additional years of full-time post-secondary education are required.
Oregon Applicants who have graduated from a law school in a foreign jurisdiction have the burden of proving (1) that the requirements for admission to the practice of law in the foreign jurisdiction in which the applicant was educated are substantially equivalent to those of this state, (2) that the applicant is currently admitted to practice law in a foreign jurisdiction where the Common Law of England exists as a basis of its jurisprudence, or has been admitted in any US jurisdiction after having passed a bar exam in any US jurisdiction, and (3) that the applicant is a graduate of a law school equivalent to a law school approved by the ABA. The Oregon Board of Bar Examiners may require that the applicant’s
law school education be evaluated by a commercial evaluator of the Board’s choosing at the applicant’s expense. See RFA 3.05(3).
Pennsylvania Applicant must have completed law study in a foreign law school, have been admitted and in good standing at the bar of a foreign jurisdiction, and have practiced in the jurisdiction for 5 out of the last 8 years. Applicant must also complete 24 credit hours taken in specified subjects at an ABA-approved law school.
Rhode Island Foreign-educated applicants who are admitted in another US jurisdiction may apply for admission under Article II, Rule 2(a) (attorney admission on examination).
South Dakota An applicant for admission who is a graduate of a foreign law school not accredited by the ABA may apply for permission to take the South Dakota Bar Examination upon good cause if the graduate has passed the bar examination in another state and is a member in good standing of that state.
Tennessee A foreign-educated applicant has two paths to eligibility: one is based solely on education and the other requires education plus experience and a US LLM degree. An applicant will be eligible for the examination on education alone if the applicant’s education is accredited by the appropriate agency in the foreign country and is substantially equivalent to that required of applicants educated in the US (a bachelor’s degree or higher and a JD degree, earned in one or more degrees in the foreign country). A comprehensive educational equivalency evaluation for professional licensing by an organization that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services must be provided to the Board with the application. If educational equivalency is not met, an applicant may be eligible if, in addition to a foreign legal education at an accredited school, the applicant is licensed in the country in which the applicant was educated and has been engaged in the active practice of law in that country for 5 of the 8 years preceding the application, and the applicant has been awarded an LLM from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States. (See Board Policy P-7.01 at https://bwp.tnble.org/?page_id=365.)
Texas An applicant with an initial law degree from a foreign law school not based on English common law must, in part, be authorized to practice law and have a qualifying LLM degree. An applicant with an initial law degree from a foreign law school based on English common law must, in part, either have a qualifying LLM degree or satisfy a 3-year practice requirement.
Utah A foreign lawyer with a law degree from an English common-law jurisdiction may sit for the bar exam after being admitted and practicing law for 2 years in a common-law jurisdiction and completing 24 semester hours at an ABA-approved law school.
Vermont A foreign law school graduate is eligible to take the bar examination if the applicant (1) has completed a legal education at a foreign law school whose curriculum provided training in a system based on the common law of England and that is otherwise equivalent to graduation from an approved law school, as determined by the equivalency determination process; and (2) has been admitted to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction in the country in which the applicant attended the foreign law school and has maintained good standing in that bar or resigned from that bar while still in good standing.
Washington An applicant with a foreign law degree that would qualify the applicant to practice law in that jurisdiction is eligible if an LLM “for the practice of law” is obtained from an ABA-approved law school. The LLM must meet the requirements of Washington’s APR 3. However, foreign lawyers from English common law jurisdictions (with a law degree) are eligible without an LLM if they are currently admitted and have active legal experience in the common law jurisdiction for at least 3 of the 5 years immediately preceding the application.
West Virginia Applicant may sit for examination or qualify for admission on motion if a law school graduate from a foreign country where the common law of England forms basis of jurisprudence, if educational requirements for admission in said country are substantially the same as in West Virginia and applicant is admitted in good standing there, and if applicant successfully completes 30 credit hours of basic courses at an ABA-approved law school.
Wisconsin First degree of law and license to practice law from English common law jurisdiction and practice for at least 3 of last 10 years, or first degree of law from qualified and approved foreign law school and completion of an approved master of law program from an ABA-approved law school.
Palau If applicant does not meet the educational requirement, they may not take the bar exam without obtaining a waiver. Applicant may request a waiver by submitting a petition demonstrating a legal education preparing them to pass the bar examination.
Puerto Rico Applicant must validate their studies and obtain a law degree from a law school approved by the ABA and by the Supreme Court.
