Seton Hall's LL.M. in American Law gives students great flexibility to choose courses that align with their professional goals, including, in some cases, the ability to sit for a bar exam. Eligibility to sit for a particular state bar exam varies from state to state. In some states, including New York, California, and Texas, the completion of an LL.M. degree along with certain other criteria will allow attorneys with a non-U.S. law degree to sit for the bar exam. Completion of the LL.M. degree in American Law does not guarantee eligibility to take a bar examination. It is the responsibility of the LL.M. student to familiarize him/herself with the requirements of the bar exam he/she wishes to take.
For more information, please refer to Chart 4 in the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions Requirements published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
Eligibility requirements are set out at the New York Board of Law Examiners [BOLE] website.
Graduates educated in the civil-law tradition or a non-traditional or mixed legal system may qualify for the New York Bar Exam after receiving a U.S. LL.M. (Master of Laws) degree with certain requirements. See Rule 520.6 [b] [1] [ii] and 520.6 [b] [2].
All foreign educated lawyers must submit the On-Line Request for Evaluation of Foreign Academic Credentials to receive a decision on their eligibility for the New York Bar Exam. The Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) recommends that students submit the Request at least a year before you plan to sit for the exam. Please see sections "VI. Supporting Documentation" and "VII. Required Documentation" for additional information.
New York State requires foreign lawyers who wish to sit for the New York Bar Exam upon completion of the LL.M. degree to earn a minimum of 24 credits completed in classroom courses at the law school in substantive and procedural law and professional skills. Of those, 12 credits must be in American law, distributed as follows:
Seton Hall Law School offers over 16 courses in subjects tested on the Uniform Bar Exam.
If one of your professional goals is membership in the New York bar, you should establish eligibility to sit for the exam through enrollment in courses that meet the above guidelines.
This list includes:
