What does it take to pass the bar exam in the U.S. with a foreign education?

Question

Having had 16 years of practice in a foreign country and then migrating to the U.S., you begin to think of how best to advance your career. Well, what else than to pass the Uniform Bar Exam.

Answer 1

First off, depending on the state where you want to take the bar, each state has its own requirements for foreign-educated takers. Some states only require substantial equivalence like New York, other states require an LLM, and yet other states require a number of years of experience as a foreign lawyer.

Second, once you get the requirement squared away, what really helps you the foreign-educated to pass the bar exam is the determination to pass it. That sounds simplistic, but really it isn't. If you are already a lawyer in another country, it means you have the skillset to study the law. Don't let others make you believe otherwise. I have taught students who took their degree in the U.S. but they are no more prepared than you are. What you need is to have the mindset that (1) this is new but not necessarily wholly different and (2) I am a lawyer, I can study this on my own.

Third, writing well in English is important. More than the knowledge, writing well is integral in showing that you can think logically.