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U.S. Bar Exam Information

The LL.M. in Law and Government is not specifically designed as a U.S. bar exam preparation course; however, after graduating from the program, many of our students sit for the New York bar exam. We urge students interested in taking a U.S. bar exam to look at the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, which lists the bar eligibility requirements of the 50 states plus Washington DC. The guide is published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Information about the New York bar is available at www.nybarexam.org. Foreign students should pay particular attention to Rule 520.6 of the Court of Appeals for the Admission of Attorneys and Counselors at Law. Foreign trained attorneys must submit an evaluation of their foreign credentials up to one year in advance of sitting for the New York bar exam.

New York Bar Exam Track

Please note, the eligibility requirements for foreign trained lawyers to sit for the New York bar exam recently changed. Students who are starting their LL.M. course of study after August, 2012 and who want to sit for the New York bar exam, will have to complete at least 12 credits of required classes out of the 24 credits needed for the LL.M. degree including:

• American Legal Institutions (2 credits, Offered Fall and Spring)
• Legal Research and Writing (2 credits, Offered Fall and Spring)
• Legal Ethics (2 credits, Offered Spring)

And at least 6 credits from the following approved courses:

• U.S. Business Law (3 credits, Offered Fall and Spring)
• U.S. Contracts Law (4 credits, Offered Spring)
• Evidence (4 credits, Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer)
• Criminal Procedure (3 credits, Offered Fall and Summer)

Because of these increased requirements, students who are opting to sit for the New York bar exam may be limited in their other course selections. If you are interested in discussing your course of study and the various requirements for the LL.M. and the New York Bar, please contact Associate Director, Amy Tenney.