How To Register To The Bar Exam As A Foreign Lawyer

Foreign Legal Education

I. INTRODUCTIONSection 520.6 of the Rules of the Courtroom of Appeals for the Access of Attorneys and Counselors at Law (22 NYCRR 520.half-dozen) contains the eligibility requirements for applicants who wish to authorize for the New York Country bar examination based on the report of law in a foreign country. Rule 520.6 too incorporates by reference provisions from Rule 520.iii. Compliance with the requirements of the Rules of the Court of Appeals must be proven to the satisfaction of the Board before an bidder may be permitted to sit for the bar examination. Therefore, applicants should carefully review Rules 520.6 and 520.iii before applying to sit for the New York State bar examination.

II. ADVANCE EVALUATION OF ELIGIBILITY

To establish eligibility for the bar examination, all offset-time applicants under Rule 520.half-dozen must complete an online Foreign Evaluation Form and submit other required documentation such equally transcripts. Please annotation that in near instances, a transcript alone volition Not be enough to make up one's mind your eligibility for the test. We urge you to carefully review Section Six, below, for a complete list of all the supporting documentation you will be required to submit.

Three. DEADLINES FOR REQUESTING ADVANCE EVALUATION OF ELIGIBILITY

A. Applicants requiring an LL.Thou. to qualify for the examination. If you need to "cure" a deficiency in your foreign legal education by completing an LL.M. degree at an canonical law school in the United States, you MUST seek an Accelerate Evaluation of Eligibility from the Board. Because of the volume of these applications, their complexity and the frequent need to communicate with these applicants and request more data concerning their eligibility, it can take upward to half-dozen (half dozen) months from the date of the Lath's receipt of all required documentation for an eligibility decision to be made. While nosotros encourage applicants to seek an evaluation at least one year in advance of taking the bar exam, to ensure that you receive a timely determination on your eligibility, the Board requires that yous submit all documentation at least half dozen months prior to the kickoff 24-hour interval of the application period of the examination you plan to accept. The following deadlines apply:

EXAM	DOCUMENTS	Borderline
Feb	Online Strange Evaluation AND all Required Foreign Documentation	May i of the twelvemonth preceding the exam you wish to sit.
JULY	Online Strange Evaluation AND all Required Foreign Documentation	Oct 1 of the year preceding the exam you wish to sit down.

B. Applicants Qualifying for the Bar Exam Without the Need for an LL.M. Degree from a U.South. Police Schoolhouse. For your personal planning purposes, and to ensure that you receive a timely determination on your eligibility, the Lath strongly encourages you to complete the online Foreign Evaluation Class AND submit all required supporting documentation at least six months prior to the get-go day of the application menses of the exam you program to take. If you are unable to meet this six month timeframe, the following deadlines will apply:

EXAM	DOCUMENTS	Borderline
FEBRUARY	Online Foreign Evaluation	November 30
FEBRUARY	Required Foreign Documentation	February i
JULY	Online Foreign Evaluation	April xxx
JULY	Required Foreign Documentation	June fifteen

C. The Board will not commence review of any request for an evaluation for any applicant requiring an LL.1000. caste until information technology is in receipt of all required strange documentation. Such applicants should permit at to the lowest degree six months from the date of the Board'due south receipt of all of the necessary documentation for a decision to be made. D. We strongly advise applicants requiring an LL.M. caste to look until you lot take received a conclusion on your Request for Evaluation before submitting an application to sit for the test and paying the $750 awarding fee.

East. If an LL.Yard. applicant submits an application to sit for the bar examination (and thus pays the $750 application fee) prior to receiving a determination of eligibility, such applicant does then at his or her own adventure in that the $750 application fee volition not be refunded or credited if a decision cannot exist fabricated in time for such exam or if information technology is after determined that the applicant is ineligible.

F. To request an evaluation of your credentials, click on the link located at the lesser of this page to create an online account. Upon cosmos of the business relationship, you will be assigned a unique BOLE Identification Number which yous must use for all correspondence and applications with the Board. However, we encourage you to carefully review all of the post-obit information earlier completing the online Foreign Evaluation form.

IV. SYNOPSIS OF REQUIREMENTS Under RULE 520.half dozen

A. Rule 520.6 (b) (1) (most applicants volition be applying under this provision) has iv major eligibility requirements:

Qualifying Degree (520.6 [b] [1]). The foreign-educated applicant must have fulfilled the educational requirements for admission to the do of police force in a foreign state other than the The states. The bidder must take a qualifying degree, which must exist a degree in law.
Qualifying Caste (520.half-dozen [b] [1]). The strange-educated applicant must accept fulfilled the educational requirements for access to the practice of police force in a foreign land other than the United States. The applicant must have a qualifying caste, which must exist a degree in law.
Accreditation (520.6[b][one]). The qualifying caste must be from a constabulary school or schools recognized by a competent accrediting agency of the government of the foreign country and must be deemed qualified and approved.
Durational Equivalence (520.half-dozen [b] [i] [i] [a]). The applicant'southward menstruum of police study must be successfully completed. The program of study must also be "substantially" equivalent in elapsing to a full-time or part-time program required at a law schoolhouse in the United states approved past the American Bar Association (ABA) and in substantial compliance with the instructional and bookish agenda requirements of department 520.3(c)(1)(i) and (ii) and 520.3(d)(i).
Substantial Equivalence (520.iii[b] [1] [i] [b]). The foreign land's jurisprudence must be based upon the principles of the English language Common Police force, and the "program and course of police force study" successfully completed by the bidder must be the "substantial" equivalent of the legal education provided past an ABA-approved law school in the United States.

B. Rule 520.6 (b) (2) (English language Common Constabulary based on a combination of police school and law part report) has 4 major eligibility requirements:

Access to exercise law in a strange country whose jurisprudence is based upon the principles of the English Mutual Law.
Access is based on a programme of report in a law schoolhouse and/or law office that is recognized by the competent accrediting bureau of the regime of such other country.
The combination of the law school and law function programs of written report must exist durationally equivalent nether Rule 520.6 (b) (ane) (i) (a).
Applicant must successfully complete a total-fourth dimension or part-time programme nether the "cure" provision of Rule 520.half dozen (b) (1) (ii).

NOTE: Applicants from English language Common Law jurisdictions who followed the "conversion route" by completing the Graduate Diploma in Police (GDL) and the Legal Do Course (LPC) for Solicitors or the Bar Vocational Course for Barristers must qualify under Court Rule 520.half-dozen (b) (2). Applicants who followed this form of study do not satisfy the durational and noun requirements under Court Rule 520.6(b)(i). The fact that a foreign law schoolhouse may combine the GDL and LPC and call information technology an LL.B. does non change how the applicant's eligibility is viewed by the Lath and such applicants must comply with the requirements in Court Rule 520.6(b)(ii). Pursuant to Courtroom Rule 520.6(b)(two) the applicant must provide proof that their combined law written report and preparation contract (i.e., articles) satisfies the durational equivalency requirements. The bidder must besides furnish proof of admission in the foreign jurisdiction and proof of having successfully completed an LLM or Master of Laws caste program at an approved law schoolhouse in the U.s.a. pursuant to the "cure" provision.

V. "CURE" PROVISION (Rule 520.vi [b] [1] [ii] and 520.vi [b] [2]).

An applicant, whether educated in a Common Law or non-mutual constabulary country, whose legal education is non of sufficient duration or non substantively equivalent to an ABA-approved law school program, may cure the durational or substantive deficiency (but non both). On Apr 27, 2011, the New York Court of Appeals amended Rule 520.6 (b). Most provisions of the amended Rule do non apply to programs in consequence prior to the 2012-2013 academic year. The following is a synopsis of how the Board of Law Examiners interprets and applies the "cure provision" for (A) programs completed or commenced prior to the 2012-2013 academic year and (B) programs commenced in or subsequently the 2012-2013 academic year.

A. PROGRAMS COMPLETED OR COMMENCED PRIOR TO THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC YEAR

Applicants who completed an LL.M program prior to the 2012-2013 academic yr may cure the durational or substantive deficiency (simply non both) by presenting proof that the applicant successfully completied a full-time or part-time program consisting of at least twenty semester hours of credit, or the equivalent, in professional law subjects, including basic courses in American law, in an approved law schoolhouse in the United states.

Program of Study. The 20 credits must have been taken equally role of a "plan of study." Courses taken on a non-matriculated basis are not acceptable.
Minimum of 20 Semester Hours of Credit. For programs completed or commenced prior to the 2012-2013 academic year, the programme of report must consist of a minimum of 20 semester hours of credit. All 20 credits must have been in courses that required classroom educational activity, and such educational activity MUST take taken place at a campus of an ABA law school located within the United States. The 20-credit 60 minutes programme must have been completed over two or more than semesters, completed generally during a typical academic year. The Lath has no authority to waive the 20 credit requirement or any of other requirements of the Court Rules.
Summertime/Accelerated Programs Prohibited. Accelerated programs and/or programs that were conducted exclusively during the summertime are not recognized.
Professional Law Subjects. For programs completed or commenced prior to the 2012-2013 academic year, the credits must be in "professional law subjects." Generally, nigh courses that are typically taught in an approved law school qualify as "professional law subjects." Not-law courses volition not be counted towards the 20 credits. The Board also does not count "directed research" or "independent study" as office of the xx credits but applicants are free to take such credits over and higher up the 20 credits in professional constabulary subjects required by the rule.
Basic Courses in American Law. For programs completed or commenced prior to the 2012-2013 academic year, the phrase "basic courses in American law" requires at least 2 courses in subjects tested on the bar exam or, if not tested on the bar examination, the courses must be approved in advance by the Court of Appeals. Applicants should contact the graduate part at the approved constabulary schoolhouse to consult the list of courses approved past the Court of Appeals.
Successful Completion. For programs completed or commenced prior to the 2012-2013 academic year, the "program of report" that the applicant chose to pursue must have been successfully completed earlier the bidder may qualify to sit for the bar exam. If the program of study that the bidder chose to pursue was more than than xx credits, the applicant will not qualify to sit for the bar test until all of the law school's requirements for that plan are satisfied and the degree is awarded.
Canonical Law Schoolhouse. Approved police school ways a United States law school canonical by the ABA. Please notation that the Board cannot recommend a particular police force school nor does the Lath maintain a list of schools that offer programs that will satisfy Rule 520.6. You lot may consult the ABA's Section on Legal Didactics and Admissions to the Bar at their website (http://world wide web.abanet.org/legaled) to obtain a list of ABA-approved law schools.
"In the United States." All of the courses must be physically completed at an ABA-approved police force school located within the United states. ANY class taken at a police school's campus in a foreign country does Not authorize toward the 20 credit requirement. Credits obtained on foreign campuses, even if the class or program is affiliated with or administered by an ABA-approved law school, will Non count towards the minimum credits required by Rule 520.half-dozen. Distance, correspondence or external report, as well as on-line programs, are not permitted.

B. PROGRAMS COMMENCED DURING OR Afterwards THE 2012-2013 ACADEMIC Yr

Applicants enrolled in a plan commenced during or after the 2012-2013 academic year may cure the durational or substantive deficiency (merely not both) by obtaining an LL.M. caste (Master of Constabulary) at an ABA-approved law school in the United states of america.

LL.M. degree. Applicants who commenced a program during or after the 2012- 2013 academic year must successfully consummate the requirements of and be awarded an LL.M. degree within 24 months of matriculation. A completed transcript showing that a qualifying LL.Grand. degree was awarded volition be required earlier an applicant is qualified to sit for the bar exam.
Minimum of 24 Semester Hours of Credit. For applicants who commenced a program in or afterwards the 2012-2013 bookish year, the LL.Grand. degree program must consist of a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit. All 24 credits (except equally otherwise permitted) must be in courses requiring classroom instruction (meet paragraph 8 below for impermissible coursework) with a minimum of 700 minutes of pedagogy fourth dimension per credit, exclusive of examination time. If an applicant did not successfully complete 24 semester hours of credit during their LL.M. degree, in compliance with Courtroom of Appeals Rule 520.6(b)(3)(i), the bidder may either petition the Court for a waiver of strict compliance nether Rule 520.14, or the bidder may cure the deficiency by taking the missing credits on a not-degree basis at an ABA-approved law school in the United States. For example, if an applicant only took 22 credits in their LL.Thousand. programme because they did not initially programme on taking the New York bar exam, or the applicant took 24 credits but one or more credits were disqualified past the Board of Police force Examiners, the applicant may take the additional credits on a non-degree basis at an ABA-approved constabulary school in the United States without having to petition the Court for a waiver.
Period of Pedagogy. For applicants who commenced a program in or later the 2012-2013 bookish yr, the LL.One thousand. degree program must take place over at least two (non-summer) semesters of at least 13 calendar weeks each, or the equivalent, sectional of reading periods, examinations and breaks. The programme cannot be completed exclusively during summer semesters; withal, a maximum of four credits may be earned in summer courses.
Canonical Police force Schoolhouse. Approved constabulary schoolhouse means a United States law schoolhouse approved by the ABA. Please note that the Board cannot recommend a item law school nor does the Board maintain a list of schools that offering programs that will satisfy Dominion 520.vi. You may consult the ABA's Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar at their website (http://www.abanet.org/legaled ) to obtain a list of ABA- approved law schools.
All coursework to be completed in the United States. All coursework must be physically completed at the campus of the ABA-approved law school in the United States. ANY class taken at a law school'south campus in a foreign country does Not qualify toward the 24-credit requirement for the LL.K. degree. No credit is immune for distance, correspondence or external report or for an on-line program or course.
Required Coursework. For applicants who commenced a program in or after the 2012-2013 bookish twelvemonth, the LL.M. degree program must include: (i) at least 2 semester hours of credit in professional responsibility, (ii) at least 2 credits in a legal enquiry, writing and analysis course (which may NOT be satisfied by a research and writing requirement in a substantive course), (3) at least two-credits in a course on American legal studies, the American legal system or a similar course designed to introduce students to U.Southward. law, and (iv) at least six credits in subjects tested on the New York bar examination.
Permissible Coursework. For applicants who commenced a program in or after the 2012-2013 academic twelvemonth, the LL.K. caste program may include: (i) credits in clinical courses (then long as the clinic course has a classroom component, the clinical work is performed nether the direct supervision of a fellow member of the law schoolhouse faculty and the educational benefit is commensurate with credit awarded) and (ii) a maximum of vi credits in other courses related to legal grooming (so long as the course is taught by a faculty member at law schoolhouse application the LL.M. or an chapter school and the class is completed at a campus in the United States).
Impermissible Coursework/Credit. Applicants may not count credits in any blazon of bar review or preparation course, "independent report", directed study, research papers or projects toward the 24 semester hours of credit required to qualify for the bar examination.
Exchange Credits/LL.M. Programs. An applicant who completes an exchange program at a U.S. law school may not count the credits earned in the commutation programme toward both the foreign law degree and the LL.Thousand. degree. If an applicant who attended a U.S. law school on exchange subsequently returns to the U.Southward. to complete an LL.M. degree, the applicant may not count the credits awarded during the prior exchange programme toward the LL.Thou. degree. The applicant must complete a thorough and continuous program of written report for the LL.M. degree that consists of a minimum of 24 credit hours and no fewer than two semesters of at least 13 calendar weeks each. Still, exchange students who return to the U.S. to complete an LL.M. caste are permitted to apply courses taken on exchange toward the LL.Thousand. programme requirements of Rule 520.6(b)(3)(vi). For case, an substitution educatee who completes a two-credit "legal research, writing and analysis" course, equally required under Rule 520.six(b)(three)(vi)(b), is not required to retake that form equally part of the LL.M. program but the pupil may not count the course towards the 24 credit hours required to qualify to sit down for the bar exam.
Failure to Consummate Courses Required Under Dominion 520.half dozen(b)(3)(vi). If an applicant (or prospective applicant) for the bar test failed to complete one or more than of the courses required under Court of Appeals Rule 520.6(b)(3)(vi) during their LL.M. caste program the bidder may take the missing grade(s) on a non-degree footing at an ABA-approved law schoolhouse in the United States. Those courses must meet the other requirements of Rule 520.6 (i.eastward. they must be completed at the U.S. campus of the ABA-approved constabulary school, a minimum of 700 minutes of instruction time must be required for the granting of one credit hour, and the coursework cannot exist done via distance education). If the applicant has not returned to an ABA-approved constabulary schoolhouse in the U.South. to take the missing courses then the applicant will need to submit a verified petition to the Court of Appeals seeking a waiver of the requirement(s) and permitting the applicant to sit for the bar examination (See Courtroom of Appeals Rule 520.14).

VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

A. All supporting documentation must come direct from the issuing schoolhouse, institution and/or government agency in a sealed envelope bearing the name, emblem, embossed stamp and/or logo of such school, establishment or agency.

B. The documentation must consist of originals or copies certified directly by the issuing school or institution.

C. Faxed copies, photocopies certified by a notary public, and/or photocopies certified by anyone other than an official at the issuing school or institution will Not be considered.

D. All documentation and correspondence should contain applicant's BOLE identification number.

Eastward. All documents become the holding of the Lath and will not be returned.

F. Do Not transport in whatever documents before you consummate the online foreign evaluation as the Board does not retain documents that cannot be linked to an active BOLE business relationship.

M. Practise NOT ship your documents in the same mailing envelope every bit another candidate.

Seven. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

A. Rule 520.half-dozen (b) (ane) applicants (i.e., MOST strange-educated applicants):

Official Transcript(s). Submit a concluding, official transcript directly from every police force school attended that includes the dates of omnipresence for each period of study, the courses taken and passed for each catamenia of report, the grades, the number of credits, the degree awarded, and the date the caste was awarded.
Degree Certificate. If the official transcript does not conspicuously state the degree awarded and/or the appointment such caste was awarded, you must besides furnish the degree document.
Proof of fulfillment of the educational requirements for access to the do of law in the foreign land.
(a) If you are admitted to exercise law in a foreign state, attach a re-create of your admission certificate, OR

(b) If you are not admitted to exercise law in a foreign country, submit proof of the educational requirements for admission to practice constabulary in your country and proof from the bar access authorities that you take fulfilled these requirements.
Accreditation. Submit a written statement from the competent accrediting bureau of your strange regime that the law schoolhouse or schools y'all attended were recognized by them as qualified and canonical throughout your menses of report.
LL.M. Certificate of Attendance Course. Applicants relying on the cure provision must accept his or her constabulary schoolhouse submit the LL.Yard. Certificate of Attendance Course directly to the State Board of Law Examiners together with an official transcript

B. Dominion 520.6 (b) (two) applicants (combination of law school and law office written report in an English language Common Law):

Access document from the competent accrediting agency of the government of the foreign jurisdiction.
Official transcripts of the law school programs confirming the dates of attendance and successful completion of the plan(south).
A certificate or written statement verifying the successful completion of the law part study (i.eastward., clerkship or articles) and the dates of the employment.
LL.M. Certificate of Attendance Form and an official transcript from the United State constabulary school.

VIII. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (if required):

A. Supplement to transcript. If the Board determines that your official transcript does not confirm that your legal education complies with the durational and substantive requirements of Rule 520.6 (b) (1), additional documentation from your law school volition be required. You will exist advised if such boosted documentation is needed.

Proof of durationally equivalent legal education.
Rule 520.half dozen (b) (one) requires successful completion of law school study that is at least substantially equivalent in duration to that required under subdivisions (c)(1)(i) and (ii) and (d)(2) of Rule 520.3. If your official transcript does not conspicuously confirm that your constabulary degree was based on classroom written report that is substantially equivalent in duration to the number of credits and minutes of education as required past Dominion 520.iii, then it will be necessary for you to provide a written statement from your police force school or schools confirming the total number of credits and minutes of instruction per credit that were successfully completed during your program of study.
Proof of substantively equivalent legal teaching.
Rule 520.6 (b) (1) (i) (b) requires successful completion of law schoolhouse report that is substantially equivalent of the legal education provided by an approved law school in the United States. If your official transcript does not conspicuously ostend that your law school study is essentially equivalent of the legal education provided past an approved law school in the United States, then it will be necessary for yous to provide from your police force school or schools any boosted documentation as requested by the Board.

B. English language translation. If the law school transcripts, caste certificate, or whatsoever other newspaper submitted is not in English language it shall be accompanied by an English translation that is duly authenticated or includes a statement by the translator setting along the translator's qualifications and certifying that the translation is accurate. Translations made by the applicant will not be accustomed. Translations may be mailed to the Board under separate cover and need not come direct from the issuing schoolhouse or academy. If you do not have a copy of the transcript from which to produce an English language translation, so you should gild a 2nd original from your school – one original to be sent directly to the Board and ane for the translator.