Where can I practice with a UK law degree?
Asked by: Kristofer Johnson | Last update: January 26, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (12 votes)
You can practice with a UK law degree globally, especially in common law countries like the US (NY, CA), Australia, and Hong Kong, often requiring you to pass local bar exams (like the NY Bar), or in the EU (Netherlands, Belgium, France) by joining national bars and potentially completing conversion courses or an LLM, with major firms offering international roles, while offshore jurisdictions (like BVI) offer direct paths due to legal similarities.
What countries can you practice in with an 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:
Can I practice law in the US with an UK degree?
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.
Is a UK LLB equivalent to a US JD?
This programme leads to a Bachelor of Laws honours degree from UCL and a Juris Doctor degree from Columbia University in New York. The Juris Doctor (or J.D.) is the American equivalent of the LLB.
Is an UK degree accepted in the USA?
Is a UK Master's recognised in the US? For university appointments and research positions in US universities, the answer is yes. A UK master's will be highly regarded and very much respected for the work and research involved. Companies in the US respect UK master's degrees.
How to become a lawyer in the UK (4 different ways)
Is a UK degree useful in the US?
Employers in the US generally recognise UK qualifications, especially degrees from well-known universities. However, it's important to verify that your credentials meet the specific requirements of the role or industry in the US.
Are UK degrees recognised worldwide?
Recognised internationally by employers and academics alike, the UK has a reputation around the world for its academia.
Is the US bar harder than the UK?
So, basically anyone around the world can just pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and become a solicitor. That's a much easier barrier to entry. Right? As such, the US bar admission appears to be much harder to get, but is hence way more valuable.
How did Kim Kardashian become a lawyer?
But Kim Kardashian did not graduate from law school. Instead, she endeavored to complete the study requirements of California's Law Office Study Program (LOSP) to be eligible to take the California Bar. This is a process we at Esq. Apprentice call legal apprenticeship.
Do US law firms pay more than UK law firms?
UK Partner Pay: Structurally Different Models. At the partner level, US law firms lead in both average pay and profit distribution, as highlighted by the 2024 Partner Compensation Survey, which revealed an average annual compensation for AmLaw 200 partners of $1.4 million.
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.
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.
Can an UK lawyer take the New York bar?
New York has adopted the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE). UK lawyers need a first degree in law equivalent in duration to a US law degree to sit the bar exam. The degree must also be substantially equivalent to a US law degree and based on the principles of English common law.
Which US states accept foreign law degrees?
Most states require a J.D. degree from 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.
Is LSAT accepted in the UK?
Law as a course is treated differently in the United States and the United Kingdom. In order to study law in the United Kingdom, you must take the LNAT exam instead of the LSAT. The top colleges accepting LNAT scores are: University of Cambridge.
How many times did Kim Kardashian fail the bar exam?
Kim Kardashian failed the California "baby bar" (First-Year Law Students' Exam) three times before passing it in December 2021, and has failed the main California Bar Exam once as of November 2025, vowing to retake it again in 2026. Her failures, particularly with the baby bar, were public, but she persevered to pass that first hurdle on her fourth attempt.
Does passing the baby bar make you a lawyer?
No, passing the California "Baby Bar" (First-Year Law Students' Examination or FYLSE) does not make you a lawyer; it's a hurdle for non-traditional law students to continue their studies, allowing them to sit for the actual California Bar Exam, which, along with character and fitness, is required to become a licensed attorney. You must pass the full California Bar Exam, which tests more subjects, and meet other requirements before you can practice law and call yourself a lawyer.
Did Kim Kardashian pass the LSAT?
That said, the question about what the “Kim Kardashian LSAT score” was, or if she even took the LSAT ends in a resounding no. This unconventional choice has sparked conversations about making legal education more accessible and exploring diverse paths in the legal profession.
Which is the 3 toughest exam in the world?
The top 3 toughest exams globally consistently include China's Gaokao (college entrance), India's IIT-JEE Advanced (engineering), and India's UPSC Civil Services Exam (government jobs), due to their extreme competition, vast syllabi, and life-altering consequences, though other candidates like the All Souls Prize or Master Sommelier Diploma are also noted for extreme difficulty. These exams demand immense knowledge, analytical skills, and endurance, with failure often meaning significant setbacks, making them notoriously difficult.
Is a 70% an A in the UK?
UK degree classifications are as follows: First-Class Honours (First or 1st) (70% and above) Upper Second-Class Honours (2:1, 2. i) (60-70%)
Is law school harder than med school?
Medical school is generally considered harder due to its intense, fact-heavy curriculum requiring massive memorization and dealing with life-or-death stakes, while law school focuses more on reading, critical thinking, and analysis, though both are rigorous and demand significant commitment. Med school involves vast scientific knowledge and clinical rotations, whereas law school builds analytical "thinking like a lawyer" through heavy reading, writing, and case application, culminating in high-stakes final exams.
Can I use my UK degree in America?
These rigorous accreditation practices make the UK one of the most trusted and accepted degrees around the globe. Because of this, the US recognizes UK degrees for both further education and employment in the US. As always, there are some exceptions to the rule.
What are the golden 5 universities in the UK?
The term "UK G5 universities" is often mentioned among students and parents, referring to the five most prestigious institutions in the UK: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL) and LSE.
Is 1 year masters in the UK worth it?
Short Duration. While a master's degree in India typically takes up to two years, most UK master's programmes are completed in just one year. This shorter duration means lower tuition fees and living costs, making it excellent value for money, and allowing you to enter the workforce sooner.