The LL.M. program is not intended to prepare foreign lawyers to practice in the United States. The LL.M. degree does not itself constitute a credential qualifying foreign lawyers to practice law in the United States. Each of the 50 states regulates the admissions of attorneys to the practice of law within its jurisdiction. The requirements for bar admission vary from state to state.
Florida Bar
All applicants seeking admission to The Florida Bar must be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school that will ultimately result in the awarding of a J.D. degree. A foreign attorney receiving the LL.M. degree, without later completing a J.D., cannot sit for The Florida Bar.
New York Bar
For students who plan on sitting for the New York Bar, the College will do everything possible to provide a curriculum that meets the requirements of the New York Bar. Students must identify their interest in sitting for the New York Bar before registering for classes. Last year, the national passage rate for all LL.M. students taking the New York Bar was 33%. Thus, students should carefully weigh their individual reasons for studying for the LL.M., the costs of preparing for and taking the New York Bar, their likelihood of success, and the true professional benefits of being a member of the New York Bar in their particular cases before planning a course of study that makes them eligible to take the New York Bar and applying for the examination.
All Bars
Foreign attorneys should communicate directly with the Board of Law Examiners of the state where they are interested in practicing. A directory of state bar admissions offices can be found on the National Conference of Bar Examiners website along with “The Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions”. LINK http://www.ncbex.org/bar-admissions/