Can foreigners practice law in New York?

Asked by: Columbus Kohler  |  Last update: December 29, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (9 votes)

Within New York State, foreign-trained attorneys may practice in-house or consult on their country's laws if they register with their local Appellate Division. Many states will not allow foreign-trained attorneys to sit for their state bar exams.

How to become a lawyer in New York as a foreigner?

Applicants must have a "qualifying degree" that satisfies the educational requirements to practice law in a foreign country. This degree must be a degree in law. The qualifying degree must be from a law school accredited by the government of the foreign country and must be deemed qualified and approved.

Can a non US citizen practice law in the US?

No state bar requires a foreign lawyer to have U.S. citizenship in order to practice law in the United States. Foreign lawyers physically present in the United States must, however, comply with U.S. immigration laws.

Can you practice law in NY without going to law school?

It is also possible to become a lawyer in New York without obtaining a law degree, if you complete some study at a law school and then work as an apprentice at a law office for four years. Lawyers in New York are regulated by the Courts.

Do you have to live in NY to practice law in NY?

Under Judiciary Law § 470, attorneys licensed in New York who maintain physical offices in New York may practice in the State even if they are residents of a distant state or foreign country. At the time of its enactment, the logic behind the rule was that it helped ensure personal service on a nonresident attorney.

Can I practice law in the U.S. with an LL.M?

32 related questions found

What states have the hardest bar exams?

What is the hardest bar exam to pass? California has a notoriously hard bar exam, with only 45% of first-time takers passing the Feb 2024 bar exam, and 24% of repeat takers passing the July 2023 exam. However, there are other states with lower pass rates in July 2023, including Maine, Wyoming, and Maryland.

Can you live in one state and practice law in another?

The general rule is a lawyer can only practice law in a state court when they have been admitted to the bar of that state. An exception would be when the attorney is admitted on a pro hac vice basis, where the out-of-state lawyer can practice with an in-state attorney acting as local counsel.

What states allow you to be a lawyer without going to law school?

Below is a list of states that allow a person to take the bar exam without attending law school.
  • California. ...
  • Vermont. ...
  • Virginia. ...
  • Washington. ...
  • New York. ...
  • Maine. ...
  • West Virginia.

Does Mike Ross have a license to practice law?

Eventually, Mike was freed from prison, and after a few more hurdles, he was able to finally secure his own law license in Suits season 6 thanks to a personal sacrifice from Jessica.

Do you need to go to law school to take the bar exam in NY?

In short, every method for qualifying to sit for the New York bar exam requires some study in law school. There are several alternative New York bar exam eligibility requirements. Obtain a Juris Doctorate degree from a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Which states accept foreign law degrees?

Most states do require a J.D. degree for a US law school in order to sit for the bar exam. There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia.

Does US law apply to non U.S. citizens?

All people in the U.S. – including citizens, foreign tourists and non-citizen residents – are subject to federal, state and local government laws. Even if only traveling for a short time, a person who commits a crime while vacationing in the U.S. could be arrested, tried, convicted and imprisoned.

Can a foreigner go to law school in USA?

Consider most J.D. programs in the U.S. require a four-year or equivalent undergraduate degree, international students may look to LL. M. U.S. law schools attract many foreign applicants seeking training in the American legal system.

Can a non-US citizen practice law?

Non-citizens who want to practice law in the United States have the option of earning a JD from an American law school. This option requires the applicant to have a bachelor's degree from their home country since that is the minimum academic requirement for admission to law school in the United States.

How long is law school in NY?

Law school is typically a three-year program, and most law schools require full-time attendance. One can attend any law school in the United States and apply to practice in NYS, as long as the law school is approved by the American Bar Association, also known as the ABA.

How much does a lawyer earn in New York?

The estimated total pay for a Lawyer is $244,027 per year in the New York City Ny area, with an average salary of $143,492 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users.

Why didn't Mike Ross go to Harvard?

Mike had been admitted as a transfer student to Harvard for the next year immediately before. The dean was forced to resign and his last act was to expel Mike and tell Harvard what he did so he would never get in. Some time after his expulsion, Mike started smoking pot with Trevor.

Does Rachel get into the bar?

Rachel Zane becomes an official member of the New York State Bar. Palmer offers a $100 million settlement which he later increases to $350 million, which Mike and later Harvey refuse. Palmer then informs Harvey that Craig Seidel was involved in his own technology being sold to Velocity.

What type of lawyer is Harvey Specter?

A corporate lawyer at Pearson Hardman and New York City's best closer.

What is the hardest state to become a lawyer?

California is widely considered to have the hardest bar exam, due to its low pass rate and the difficulty of the content and constraints of the exam.

What is the easiest state to become a lawyer?

1. What Is the Easiest Bar Exam? Going by the 2021 bar exam passing rates, Wyoming has the easiest bar exam to pass.

What state does not require a law degree?

Before you can practice law, you will need to choose a state that will allow you to take the bar exam without completing law school. Currently, Washington, Vermont, California and Virginia are the only four states that allow this process.

Can an out-of-state attorney practice in New York?

Temporary Practice (“Fly-in Fly-out”)

In certain limited circumstances, New York rules allow the temporary practice of law in New York by out-of-state and foreign attorneys.

What state pays lawyers the most?

Best-Paying States for Lawyers

The states and districts that pay Lawyers the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($238,990), California ($213,860), Delaware ($212,360), New York ($208,480), and Connecticut ($195,730). How Much Do Lawyers Make in Your City? See current salary offers for jobs in your field.

What states do not require a bar exam?

In every U.S. jurisdiction except Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington, all those seeking admission to the bar must pass a bar examination.