The American Legal System in Brief

America legal system states-to be a lawyer in americaUSA 50 states and the federal capital D.C. It consists of 51 legal systems. The procedural and substantive law of all these are independent of each other. On the other hand, states tend to close these differences and make close legislative choices so that differences do not harm national trade and social vitality. For this reason, it is possible to talk about a general American contract law by specifying the state-based differences in it. So, contrary to what is often legendary, a Vermont man does not feel as if he is dealing with a foreigner when contracting with a New Yorker. This is similar for all areas of law, although there are exceptions.

All these legal systems, which are different from each other, also have different expectations from the people who are authorized to be attorneys. Being a barrister in one state does not allow you to practice directly in another state (with the exception of some areas of federal law). So the state in which you took the bar exam becomes a defining element of your career for the rest of your life. For this reason, choosing the right state where you will take the bar exam is a vital career decision.

How to Become a Lawyer in America in Brief

The most common way to become a lawyer in America is the J.D., which you will be eligible to attend after completing a 4-year undergraduate program. (Juris Doctor) programs. Those who have a 4-year undergraduate degree in Turkey (this license does not have to be law) can have a JD degree in the USA by graduating from these programs. These programs have a bad reputation for being expensive as well as being 3 years old. Therefore, law graduates in Turkey do not have the patience to continue these programs for 3 years as a result of a great effort. In this case, LLM (Master of Laws) programs come into play.

The second way to become a lawyer in America is through LLM programs. These programs are ideal for foreign lawyers who have received a law degree in foreign countries to step into law in the United States. But while JD graduates can practice in any of the 51 legal systems they choose, LLM graduates have the opportunity to practice law in a very limited number of states. New York and California are among the states where foreign lawyers can take the exam and are preferred. In addition, the states of Georgia, Washington, Vermont and Wisconsin are among career options for foreign lawyers.

Bar Exam Requirements in the USA (for LLMs)

In order to become a lawyer in America, every law graduate must pass the bar exam. However, there are additional special conditions for someone who has graduated from a foreign country’s law degree to be able to take the bar exam. Chief among these is completing the LLM program and completing the course hours or course credit requirements determined by the bar association. For example, the New York Bar Association expects you to complete 24 credits under the LLM program at an ABA-approved law school. In addition, these bar associations that allow LLMs to take the exam may require you to take certain core courses. If you do not prepare for the conditions of the bar you are considering before choosing a course, you may have to complete the missing courses by paying the course fee per credit after the LLM.

Some states require that you qualify to practice law in another country in order to take the bar exam. Others require you to have a bachelor’s degree in the common law system, such as the UK or Canada. For the state you have in mind, you can refer to the NCBE guide, which lists all states’ requirements. https://www.ncbex.org/pubs/bar-admissions-guide/2016/mobile/index.html#p=24

Another important requirement of the bar exam is to prove your undergraduate education to the bar association to which you applied. This can also take a long time. By requesting your documents from your bar association in Turkey before your LLM education ends, you can relax your calendar and eliminate the risk of losing your chance to take the bar exam with surprise delays. Finally, you need to order the documents from your law school in America to the bar that you have successfully completed your LLM education. Law schools are quick to send their JD and LLM students’ documents in batches each year.

studying for the bar exam – graduate law in the usa I have completed the bar requirements, what about the exam?

A large number of JD and LLM students purchase support courses to prepare for the bar exam. JD students take nearly all of the core courses during the JD program. But these courses may seem very foreign to LLM students. Some LLM students may choose to work independently of textbooks to avoid paying for support courses. In this way, it is possible to pass the exam. But this requires a longer preparation time anyway, which means more living expenses. The best solution is to study hard and pass the exam as soon as possible.

Preparing for the bar exams is a work process that requires at least 2-2.5 months. You can compare this time period to preparing for the university exam in Turkey in terms of intensity. It is not difficult to pass the bar exam anywhere in America for someone who works regularly and seriously. But the bar exam is definitely not easy. There are so many topics and there is usually a time limit. The solution is to prepare a good plan and work regularly. Details about the bar exam are a topic in itself. We will discuss this in detail in future articles.

I Passed the Bar Exam! What’s next?

new york state bar exam – law in america llm master of law

Passing the bar exam is one of the most relaxing feelings in life. The reason is that I don’t have to prepare for the bar exam again. Of course, passing the bar exam is not the end of your adventure. You still have the ethics exam (MPRE) that you need to take, and the state bar exam if the state you entered uses the UBE (Uniform Bar Exam) as the bar exam.

MPRE is a professional ethics exam held on certain dates across the United States. American lawyers take their professional ethics very seriously and expect every lawyer to report any ethical violation (even if it’s your spouse or partner). Sanctions for violations of ethical rules are also relatively heavy. Therefore, bar associations expect their applicants to pass this exam successfully. You can take this exam before or after the bar exam, depending on your preference. However, you should be careful not to take it too early as the exam has a validity period.

Secondly, the states in the UBE system, which is the national bar exam, have the state bar exam, which focuses on different or important issues in their laws. This exam is a relatively easy exam for many candidates after passing the national bar exam. The state of New York, for example, allows you to solve questions with a study note that you can print out on the exam. However, because the time is limited, it can be difficult for someone who has never prepared for the exam to find the answer among the notes. For this reason, it is possible to pass easily with a short preliminary study.

After completing these exams, we go back to the state bar association guide for the remaining attorney requirements. Some states may impose additional requirements for attorneyship in addition to the exams. These may include the requirement to work for a certain period of time pro bono (service free of charge) or to pass certain bar association training. Finally, there is the assessment of your character and fitness. If you are deemed competent to act as a lawyer by the relevant legal authority, you are ready to practice law.

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Each stage of this adventure, which starts with LLM or JD education and extends to obtaining your attorney’s license, is full of intricacies enough to be a separate article. We tried to summarize this long process as best we could. In our opinion, being a lawyer in America is not as difficult as it is thought or often legendary. On the other hand, it would be misleading to say that it is easy. A person with good English and a working discipline can be successful in Turkey, as well as in the United States by registering with the bar and practicing his profession successfully. If you fit this description, we invite you to this adventure.