Can you practice law with just LLM?
Asked by: Lucienne Boyle | Last update: February 9, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (36 votes)
You generally cannot practice law in the U.S. with only an LLM; a Juris Doctor (J.D.) is typically required for bar eligibility, but some states (like NY, CA, VA) offer limited pathways for foreign-trained lawyers with an LLM to sit for the bar, often requiring specific coursework, and some roles don't require a bar license at all (e.g., in-house counsel, policy work). An LLM is a specialization after a J.D. for lawyers, not a replacement for the foundational law degree needed to become a licensed attorney.
Can I take the bar with just an LLM?
Unfortunately, for LLMs, there are not a lot of choices! Unlike students who graduate with a juris doctor degree, LLM degree holders face more restrictions on where they can sit for the bar. A handful of jurisdictions, such as New York, permit LLM graduates to take the exam and hold a license to practice law.
Can you practice law with an LLM?
While it's not necessary to have an LLM to be a practicing lawyer, many professionals pursue one because it can make them more desirable candidates in a specific area or within a large law firm that handles international clients. An LLM may also provide you with the qualifications to become a firm partner.
Is an LLM higher than a JD?
Neither an LLM nor a JD is inherently "higher," but they serve different purposes: a JD (Juris Doctor) is the fundamental, primary degree needed to become a lawyer and practice law in the U.S., while an LLM (Master of Laws) is a secondary, specialized degree for those who already hold a JD (or foreign law degree) and want advanced knowledge in a specific area like tax or environmental law, often for career advancement. Think of the JD as the entry ticket to the legal profession and the LLM as a specialization for existing legal professionals.
Does LLM make you a lawyer?
No, an LLM (Master of Laws) doesn't make you a lawyer on its own; it's a postgraduate specialization for those who already have a law degree (like a JD in the U.S.) or for foreign-educated lawyers to gain U.S. qualifications, but you still need to pass the bar exam to practice. The standard path to becoming a lawyer in the U.S. involves a JD degree, followed by bar admission, while an LLM offers deeper expertise in areas like tax or international law, making you more competitive or eligible to take the bar in specific cases.
How my LLM Master of Laws degree from UCL Faculty of Laws has helped my career
Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?
Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
Which LLM is most in demand?
Top 10 LLM Specializations in Demand in 2025 – Scope, Salary & Career Opportunities
- LLM in International Law.
- LLM in Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
- LLM in Human Rights Law.
- LLM in Environmental Law.
- LLM in Cyber Law / Technology Law.
- LLM in Taxation Law.
- LLM in Arbitration, Mediation & Dispute Resolution.
What is the salary of an LLM in the US?
While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $182,500 and as low as $85,000, the majority of Llm salaries currently range between $126,000 (25th percentile) to $157,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $174,000 annually across the United States.
Can LLMs replace lawyers?
“The tools actually are not there to basically substitute [for] your lawyer,” says Afra Feyza Akyurek, the lead author of the paper. “Even though a lot of people think that LLMs have a good grasp of the law, it's still lagging behind.”
Is LLM worth it after JD?
While a JD program provides the foundational knowledge you need to practice law, an LLM allows you to specialize in your specific area of interest and distinguish yourself in the legal market. Since an LLM allows you to dig deeper into specialized subject matter, it can also open up more job opportunities.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the bar exam to be a lawyer?
No, Kim Kardashian did not pass the California Bar Exam in July 2025, a result she publicly shared in November 2025, vowing to keep studying despite the setback, but she has previously passed the "Baby Bar" exam after multiple attempts and plans to retake the main bar exam. She revealed her failed attempt on her show The Kardashians, showing emotional moments from her preparation and disappointment, and emphasized her determination to pass.
What states allow LLM to take the bar?
Many states in the U.S. allow foreign-trained attorneys with (or without) a U.S. LL. M. degree to sit for the bar exam combined with other requirements. These states include Texas, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington.
Did Michelle Obama pass the bar?
Yes, Michelle Obama did pass the Illinois bar exam, but she failed it on her first attempt after graduating from Harvard Law School before passing it on her second try, later becoming a licensed attorney in Illinois and having a successful legal career before becoming First Lady. She was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1989 and went on to work in intellectual property law at a firm where she met her husband, Barack Obama.
Can you do an LLM before a JD?
If you have not yet completed your LLM, your acceptance will be conditional. You must apply for the JD degree within 3 years of completing your LLM program to be eligible.
Has anyone ever become a lawyer without going to law school?
However, there are exceptions. California, Virginia, and Washington offer an alternative route through structured apprenticeship programs. These programs allow aspiring lawyers to gain the necessary legal education and training without attending traditional law school.
What percentage of lawyers make $500,000?
A small percentage of lawyers earn over $500k; while the median salary for lawyers is around $150k-$170k, the top 10% earn over $239k, but reaching $500k+ usually requires being a top partner in a "Big Law" firm, specializing in high-value areas like corporate or IP law, or having a very successful practice, notes the BLS and Legal Brand Marketing.
What can LLMs never do?
LLMs can't stop, gather world state, reason, revisit older answers or predict future answers, unless that process also is detailed in the training data. If you include the previous prompts and responses, that still leaves the next inference starting from scratch as another single pass.
Is an LLM equivalent to a JD?
Unlike the broader JD curriculum, an LLM hones in on specialized areas of law. These programs typically include a combination of required courses that build expertise in a specific field with elective courses for even deeper specialization.
How much does a JD make vs a Master of Laws?
The average salary of someone with a JD is $109,651, while those with an LLM earn an average of $142,663. Over time, your LLM may position you for promotions and other opportunities for advancement. You may also be more competitive for specialist roles that require deeper legal knowledge.
How hard is an LLM?
The course emphasises legal analysis and problem-solving, which requires sophisticated legal terminology. While both a legal degree and an LLM require hard work and attention, an LLM is more difficult due to its concentrated curriculum and high demands for prior knowledge.
What is a good LLM GPA?
What is the typical LLM GPA requirement? There is no universal GPA requirement for LLM programs, but top US programs expect a strong academic record. While 3.0 on a 4.0 scale may serve as a general minimum, competitive applicants often present a GPA above 3.5.
What is the biggest problem with LLM?
Let's explore some of their main limitations:
- Hallucinations (Making Up Information) One weird thing about LLMs is that when they don't know the answer, they often won't admit it. ...
- Limited Reasoning Skills. ...
- Limited Long-Term Memory. ...
- Limited Knowledge. ...
- Bias. ...
- Prompt Hacking.
Are there any free LLMs?
Large Language Models (LLMs) are machine learning models that can understand and generate human language based on large-scale datasets. Unlike proprietary models developed by companies like OpenAI and Google, open source LLMs are licensed to be freely used, modified, and distributed by anyone.
Why does LLM fail?
This happens because:
LLMs generate very confident responses, even when they're wrong. There's no human-in-the-loop (HITL) validation. Critical decisions get automated without a human checking for errors or biases. Without clear policies, AI is deployed without understanding security risks or compliance implications.