The Journey to the Bar: A Guide to Becoming a Lawyer in the US

Latest

This article is written in conjunction with the IE Law Society.

By Ekaterina Gorshunova

Members of the IE Law School have the unique privilege of being exposed to the comparative law learning model, providing a well-rounded insight into various jurisdictions. Thanks to this model students have the opportunity to carry their comparative knowledge into various careers, countries, and paths after graduation. One such path is becoming a qualified lawyer in a specific jurisdiction and for many students the United States is a compelling prospect for the continuation of their legal career. Home to many international law firms and companies, the US offers a wide array of exciting potential legal careers. For those interested in pursuing them, it is important to have an idea of what the journey will look like. 

The Bar Exam 

The Bar Examination or simply “The Bar” is the main licensing exam for the legal profession and the passage of this exam is necessary to be able to practice law in the US. The examination is different in every state as are the requirements to sit the exam, but there exist reciprocal agreements between certain states, allowing attorneys to practice in multiple states without sitting for another bar exam. The most streamlined path to sitting the bar exam in one’s state of interest is graduating from a US law school with a JD. However, some states allow lawyers qualified in foreign jurisdictions to be admitted to the examination. These two possible paths to sitting the bar exam and becoming a lawyer in the US are outlined below. 

Qualifying via a Juris Doctor Degree

The most common route to becoming a practicing lawyer in the US is receiving a Juris Doctor (JD) graduate degree. The JD’s primary function is to prepare individuals to practice law in the US and it usually spans across three years. A bachelor’s degree is required to apply to any JD program in the US and no specific “pre-law” field of study is necessary, students are admitted from various academic backgrounds and disciplines. However, it is of vital importance to display interest in the legal sector via extracurricular activities such as mock trial and work experience such as an internship in the legal field. IE offers numerous opportunities to do just that for students studying any degree: the ELSA Mitchell L. McLean Mock Trial Competition is an exemplary way to both display interest in the law and familiarize yourself with US judicial processes as it mirrors them exactly. Additionally, the Legal Clinic Lab at IE provides the unique chance to gain professional practical experience in the legal sector, assisting NGOs, foundations, and people in need with free legal services. Apart from these hands-on experiences it is also beneficial to join law-related clubs on campus like the Law Society, ELSA IE, and the Debate Club which offer the opportunity to participate in law-related events and network with like-minded interested individuals. 

Beyond expressing interest and gaining experience in the legal field applicants are required to sit the LSAT Exam, a standardized test designed to assess reading comprehension and logical reasoning. The purpose of the test is to aid in predicting student success in law school as it evaluates the skills necessary for said success. The LSAT is notoriously rigorous and advanced preparation is strongly recommended. The IE Law School provides LLB students with the unique opportunity to circumvent the LSAT via its partner program with Northwestern University in Chicago. This very selective dual LLB-JD pathway allows current IE LLB students to begin studying at Northwestern in their fourth year and complete the JD position over the course of three additional years, spanning six years overall. LLB Students who are nominated for the program by IE, meet Northwestern’s admissions requirements, and ultimately get selected will graduate with both an LLB and a JD, qualifying them to practice in the US. 

Qualifying as a Foreign-Educated Lawyer

An alternative path to the JD is qualifying as a foreign-educated lawyer. Certain states allow lawyers holding an undergraduate degree from most common law countries to sit for the bar examination. Additionally, some states allow lawyers from civil law jurisdictions to sit for the examination after completing an LLM program at a US Law school. These states include New York, California, Illinois, and more; for the full list consult the NCBE’s Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements. For LLB students, the IE Law School offers a joint program with Northwestern University allowing students to graduate with both an LLB and LLM degree at the end of their fourth year. After receiving the LLM, selected students can return to Spain and qualify via a Máster de Acceso a la Abogacía (MAB) in Spain or an alternative qualification in a different jurisdiction. LLM programs do not prepare students to practice law directly, they provide specialization in a specific field of law. Although LLM programs are slightly less demanding and usually only span across one year as opposed to the three years it takes to complete a JD, it is still of vital importance to display interest in the legal sector and in the field of specialization.

IEU Law Society
IEU Law Society
The IEU Law Society brings the legal world closer to our university's student body.

More from Author

Related

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here