After graduating in Europe a Law School (bachelor degree), how can I become a lawyer in the United States?

Question

Well I started studying in Europe to become a lawyer and in some years I will get my bachelor degree after that I am planning to go for the master degree. But what I really would like to do, is to work as a lawyer in the United States. What should/can I do to reach my goal?

Answer 1

A law degree from Europe will not qualify you to sit for the state bar exam in any jurisdiction in the United States and therefore will not allow you to practice law in the United States. Generally speaking you need to have a law degree at the masters level (J.D.) from a U.S. law school that is accredited by the American Bar Association. We do have German law degree holders in my firm that qualify to sit for our state bar by obtaining an LLM from an ABA accredited law school, and your masters level law degree may qualify you for acceptance into such an LLM program.



In general the hiring market for lawyers in the United States is very competitive with an oversupply of attorneys. I would recommend that you secure employment in an international law firm in your jurisdiction first and then see if they have programs that allow for you to work out of one of its offices in the United States.