Most foreign attorneys sit for the New York or the California Bar Examination. New York and California operate a relatively open policy in permitting foreign law graduates or lawyers to sit their bar examinations and they do not impose restrictions to admission on grounds of nationality or residence.
New York Bar Exam (OFFERED ON THE LAST TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF FERUARY AND JULY EACH YEAR)
In general, law graduates or foreign-trained attorneys with an undergraduate law degree from most common law countries may take the bar examination in New York.
The New York Bar Exam is a 2-day Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
Day 1: Two 90-minute Multistate Performance Test questions (MPT in the AM) and six 30-minute Multistate Essay Exam questions (MEE in the PM).
Day 2: Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM)
In addition to the bar examination, the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) must be passed before you can be certified for admission to practice as a New York Attorney-at-Law. The MPRE is not considered a particularly difficult examination but BARBRI recommends 2 weeks of concentrated study in order to ensure first time success. BARBRI provides MPRE preparation free of charge. The MPRE is a 2-hour, 60 question multiple-choice examination on ethics and professional conduct covering the American Bar Association's (ABA) Code of Responsibility, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct.
California Bar Exam (OFFERED ON LAST TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY OF FEBRUARY AND JULY EACH YEAR)
in general, qualified lawyers in any country, including those who have a civil law background or are qualified in their home jurisdiction through an alternative pathway, can apply to take the California Bar Exam. If you have a law degree but are not licensed, you may qualify to sit for the bar if you complete and LL.M. with at least 20 credits at an ABA or California accredited school.
The California Bar Exam is a 2-day exam.
Day 1: Three 60-minute essay questions (in the AM). Two 60-minute essay questions and one 90-minute Performance Test (in the PM).
Day 2: Multistate Bar Exam (MBE), a 200-question, multiple-choice exam (100 questions in the AM, 100 questions in the PM).
BARBRI now offers 2 types of preparation course for you to be ready for the New York / California Bar Exam:
To enroll or for further information, please contact us at [email protected].
