Navigating the US Bar Exam While Pursuing an LLM: Is It Possible?
As I prepare to embark on my LLM journey this fall in the United States, I find myself contemplating an intriguing question: Is it feasible to take the bar exam while enrolled in the program? Having qualified as a lawyer in my home country—a common law jurisdiction—and accumulated several years of practical experience, I’ve learned that both the California and New York bar exams welcome applications from foreign-trained lawyers like myself. However, I want to ensure I have my facts straight on this.
Some of my seniors at law school have tackled the US bar exam without completing their LLMs first, which suggests that completing the degree may not be a prerequisite for taking the exam. Initially, I had planned to take the bar exam following my graduation from the LLM program in May 2024, with an eye on the scheduled sitting in July 2024. Now, however, I am considering the prospect of sitting for the California bar exam as early as February 2024.
While I recognize there may be logistical challenges, such as potential scheduling conflicts with my coursework, I am eager to hear if others have successfully navigated this path. Has anyone else attempted to balance LLM studies with bar exam preparation? Or does this seem like a far-fetched idea?
I am particularly interested in understanding if there’s any overlap between the LLM curriculum and the content required for the bar exam, as this could play a crucial role in my decision-making process. If you have insights or experiences to share, or if there are other factors I may not have considered, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Your guidance could be invaluable as I weigh my options in this exciting yet challenging academic endeavor.
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