Can you take the bar with a UK law degree?
Asked by: Prof. Jessica Reilly | Last update: October 28, 2025Score: 5/5 (63 votes)
To appear for the Bar exam, most states require a foreign law graduate to do additional education, usually a one year course in an ABA accredited school covering specified subjects in US law. California and Washington State accept an online course. Others like NY require in person classes.
Is a UK Law degree valid in the USA?
United States:
To practice law in the U.S., you'll typically need to pass the state bar exam. However, with a UK law degree, you're well-equipped to tackle this challenge. The U.S. offers a diverse range of legal careers, from corporate law and intellectual property to entertainment law.
Do UK lawyers take the bar?
The bar exam or law bar exam is a professional qualification examination for lawyers in the UK. After passing a bar exam, you can be granted permission to practice as an advocate and carry out other licensed activities done by legal professionals, e.g. property conveyancing.
Can a lawyer in the UK work in the US?
Yes. UK lawyers can register as an FLC if they meet the New York eligibility requirements. UK lawyers can sit the New York State bar exam if they hold a law degree equivalent in duration to a US law degree or have at least two years of legal education and obtain a master's in law from an ABA-approved university.
Can you become a lawyer with a Law degree UK?
If you do study law at undergraduate level, ensure that your LLB is a qualifying degree - meaning it's approved by the SRA (for solicitors) or the Bar Standards Board (BSB) (for barristers) - a requirement if you're to become a practising lawyer.
How to become a lawyer in the UK (4 different ways)
Is the UK bar exam hard?
According to most law school graduates, the examination is very difficult.
Can I be a lawyer in New York with a UK law degree?
The New York Board welcomes foreign-trained lawyers to directly sit the bar, provided that they completed their legal education in a system that focuses on the study of the common law, as is the UK's LLB program.
How do I become a US lawyer with a UK law degree?
Some states allow foreign lawyers to apply for bar admission based on years of law practice and/or a qualifying foreign law degree (typically involving legal education in English common law). However, most states require foreign lawyers to obtain an LL. M. degree (or equivalent) from an ABA-accredited law school.
Do lawyers earn more in the UK or US?
At a glance. Trainees in London earn more than those working outside the capital. You'll earn less in smaller firms but will likely rise up the ladder quicker. USA based firms pay the highest trainee and newly-qualified salaries, followed by Magic Circle then City firms.
Where can I use my UK law degree?
- Barrister.
- Chartered legal executive.
- Conveyancer.
- Judicial assistant.
- Law costs lawyer.
- Legal cashier.
- Legal secretary.
- Paralegal.
What do UK call lawyers?
The term 'lawyer' hasn't actually got a defined meaning in UK law. The term lawyer is a generic term used to describe anyone who is a Licensed Legal Practitioner qualified to give legal advice in one or more areas of law. A solicitor and a barrister could both be considered a 'lawyer' in the UK.
Are lawyers underpaid in UK?
Job site Indeed reports the average salary for a solicitor is just under £50,000 a year, based on almost 11,000 reported salaries. Of course, this figure can vary significantly based on the factors mentioned earlier, with some London based, Magic Circle firms paying experienced professionals well over £100,000 a year.
How much is the UK bar exam?
From Autumn 2021, the route to qualifying is changing. The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is expected to cost between £3,000 to £4,000.
Is UK degree acceptable in USA?
Yes, a master's degree from the UK is considered valid in US institutions for research positions as well as university appointments. The weightage of the UK master's degree is quite high for research and work.
What is the hardest bar exam in the US?
Which bar exam is hardest? California is considered by many to be the most difficult bar exam. It has a relatively low pass rate and a relatively high minimum passing score and covers a lot of state law.
Do UK lawyers have to pass the bar?
Yes, British solicitors have to pass bar exams like american lawyers do. But you have to join existing law firm before start your own firm.
What country pays lawyer the most?
The top countries which offer the highest average Lawyer's salary are the USA, Germany, Canada, the UK, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. The legal field presents numerous opportunities for skilled professionals to create significant impacts locally and globally.
Who gets paid more us or UK?
The US is a richer society, thus wages are higher. The US economy is lower tax, less regulated, than the British.
What is the highest paid type of lawyer in the UK?
The most profitable legal area is commercial and corporate law, where solicitors can easily earn over £100,000 a year. Commercial lawyers provide business-related advice to companies, making sure that they comply with regulation and a particular country's legal system.
Is UK law degree valid in 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.
How hard is the New York bar exam?
Nonetheless, the New York Bar Exam still qualifies as a moderately difficult bar exam. An applicant must score 266 on a 400 point scale in order to pass the New York Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
What is the US equivalent of a barrister?
Barristers are involved in and litigation , similar to “trial lawyers” or “ litigators ” in the United States, except such lawyers in America may perform tasks beyond courtroom advocacy, unlike barristers.
What is the UK equivalent of Law degree?
Gain a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in the UK in 2 years
This two-year Law degree covers all core modules and foundations of Law, generally allowing students to choose elective modules in the second year.
Can I get a job in the US with an UK degree?
Employers normally recognise UK qualifications. This is highlighted by the fact some US nationals travel to the UK to study before returning home to work. However, it's worth checking that a UK degree will be accepted before you apply for a job. You can learn more at ENIC-NARIC.
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.