WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
A law degree and permission to practise law are separate. Start with your existing qualifications and intended jurisdiction, then choose a programme that can meet the relevant academic and licensing requirements.
Identify the appropriate degree route
The usual US JD route requires a bachelor’s degree and is commonly three years of full-time study, with other formats available. A particular undergraduate major is not a universal requirement. Check how each school evaluates your international qualifications.
An LLM generally builds on a first law degree or equivalent background under the school’s rules. It is not a universal substitute for a JD or a guaranteed route to US practice.
Check admission and delivery requirements
Read the school’s current test, transcript, credential-evaluation, language and reference instructions. Do not assume every programme accepts the same test or requires the same documents.
The ABA lists approved schools and distance-education JD options. Online study does exist, but you must separately confirm licensing recognition and any immigration implications of the programme’s delivery mode.
Ask the licensing authority before committing
Rules for foreign legal education and bar admission differ by jurisdiction. New York, for example, has its own evaluation process and conditions under which an LLM may address a qualifying educational deficiency. Not every foreign degree or LLM meets them.
Request the appropriate assessment early. Passing an examination alone may not satisfy all requirements: character and fitness and other jurisdiction-specific conditions can apply. Admission in one jurisdiction does not automatically authorise practice everywhere.
Budget for study and qualification
Include tuition, living costs, insurance, credential evaluation, examination preparation and licensing expenses. Check funding renewal and the time between graduation, examination and employment.
Next action: choose the jurisdiction first, obtain its official eligibility guidance and compare programmes against it. Ask the school and regulator separate questions; an admission offer is not a regulator’s approval of your route.
Sources and further reading
- LSAC: JD degree programmes ↗
- LSAC: LLM degree programmes ↗
- ABA: approved law schools ↗
- New York Board of Law Examiners: foreign legal education ↗
Sources checked 2026-10-13. Examples and planning suggestions are Effikos editorial guidance.
Something needs a closer look? Send us a correction.
