Can I take bar exam after LLM UK?

Asked by: Dr. Mitchel McKenzie V  |  Last update: January 24, 2026
Score: 4.1/5 (22 votes)

If upon sitting the bar examination, the UK lawyer isn't successful, they would generally be encouraged to complete a US Master's in Law (LLM). Following a successful evaluation, a UK educated lawyer is eligible to sit the bar examination.

Can you take the bar after an LLM?

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.

Can I become a lawyer with LLM in UK?

Will I qualify as a solicitor or barrister with a law Masters? The LLM is not a direct route to qualification. You will still need to complete the SQE and a two-year period of qualifying legal work experience in order to become a solicitor. LLMs also don't automatically strengthen applications for training contracts.

Is LLM enough for the bar exam?

Qualifications for Admission to the Bar

Please note that earning an LL. M. does not guarantee eligibility to sit for a U.S. bar exam. Furthermore, in addition to the bar exam, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction.

Is UK LLM valid in the USA?

Yes. However, most jurisdictions require holders of foreign law degrees to have an additional legal degree, such as a J.D. or LL. M., from an ABA-accredited law school in the United States.

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Can I practice in USA after LLM?

No. If you want to practice law in the U.S., you need to get a JD from an ABA approved law school and pass the bar exam in the state you want to practice in. A foreign degree won't allow you to practice law in the U.S.

Can I take the NY bar with a UK LLB?

The New York Bar is also open to both foreign qualified lawyers and foreign-educated law students, and like the SQE is the only route for foreign lawyers to practise in New York.

Can you be a lawyer with just an LLM?

A JD or an LLM can prepare you for a legal career, but you can't become a licensed lawyer without a JD degree. Also, a JD degree program takes longer and has a broader scope than an LLM program. What really determines if a JD or an LLM is the right one for you are your long-term career goals.

Is bar exam harder than law school?

The LSAT tests logical reasoning and reading comprehension for law school admission, while the bar exam requires extensive legal knowledge and practical skills to obtain a license to practice law. The bar exam's broader scope and depth of material make it more challenging for most candidates.

What countries accept the UK law degree?

Destinations you can work in with a UK law degree
  • Canada: Canada is an attractive destination for UK law graduates due to its robust legal system and diverse opportunities. ...
  • Australia: Australia offers UK law graduates a sunny climate, outdoor social lifestyle, and a familiar legal system. ...
  • United States: ...
  • Hong Kong:

Is UK LLM worth it?

Yes, an LLM graduate can earn up to £35,000 for the first job out of the master's programme in the UK—building up to £45,000 as they build experience in the field.

Can I practice in UK after LLM?

Obtaining the right to practice law in the UK

“An LL. M is a specialist degree, but not a qualifying law degree for the purposes of the bar.” Those wishing to become barristers would either need to complete the undergraduate LL. B., which takes three years, or the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), which takes one year.

What comes after a LLM?

A Doctor of Juridical Science degree is considered the highest level of a law degree and is designed for professionals who are looking to gain an advanced legal education after earning their JD and LLM.

Can you practice law with a master's in law?

degree is designed for students who already hold a J.D. or other first professional degrees in law. If students want to take the bar exam, a J.D. degree will enable them to practice in every state while the LL. M. degree may qualify them only to take the bar exam in a few states.

Can an UK lawyer practice in California?

Steps to work in California

A UK-trained lawyer can sit the bar as long as they have completed their legal education in a system that focuses on the study of common law. This simply means that in the UK, you must be a qualified solicitor via the SQE or LPC route.

Which state has the easiest law bar exam?

Overall, Utah is the easiest bar exam to pass. This is true whether you are a first-time taker or repeat taker! In July 2023, Utah had a 94% pass rate for first time takers and a 73% pass rate for repeat takers. It also has the lowest UBE cut score of 260.

Is the UK bar exam hard?

According to most law school graduates, the examination is very difficult.

Can you skip law school and take the bar exam?

It's four years of hard work or maybe more, but it could be the right path for you! In California, qualified applicants can take the bar exam without going to law school.

Is LLM higher than JD?

An LLM takes a lawyer deeper, to gain "advanced knowledge in a specific area of law for career advancement, upward mobility, and/or expanded practice opportunities." The primary difference in the curriculum is that a JD program covers general law concepts; the LLM is focused on a specific area of expertise.

Can you get a JD after LLM?

You must apply for the JD degree within 3 years of completing your LLM program to be eligible. Please note that students in the online LLM, MITLE, MDR, or MSL programs are not eligible to apply as transfer students. We will grant up to 30 credit units from your LLM degree toward the 88-unit minimum for the JD degree.

What can I do with a Master's in law in the UK?

Here are just a few of the career paths on which these courses could take you.
  • Legal Practice Course-Solicitor. The next stage for law graduates (and non-law graduates who have completed the conversion course) who are aiming to be a solicitor is the Legal Practice Course (LPC). ...
  • In-House Legal. ...
  • Research. ...
  • Non-Legal Jobs.

Can UK lawyers work in the USA?

UK lawyers can typically transfer their education to the US if they have completed a program of education focused on English common law for at least three years. If successful, you will then receive an Advanced Evaluation of Eligibility from the New York Board of Law Examiners and can then sit for the bar examination.

Which states allow foreign lawyers to take the bar?

degree in itself does not guarantee eligibility to take the bar exam. 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.

Can you pass the bar without going to law school UK?

Solicitors' UK bar exam requirements

Obtain an undergraduate degree in any subject (it does not need to be a law degree), or equivalent qualification or apprenticeship. Pass SQE1 and SQE2. Complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) Meet character and suitability requirements.