Becoming a New York Lawyer?

Johno91

I have UCD Business and Law down on my CAO and was wondering if this is recognised as sufficient to do the NY Bar Exam? (Is it equivalent to the LLB?)

Also, would I have any chance of getting hired by an NY firm (im not talking about the big ones) after the bar, or would I need to do an LLM or JD in the US to get hired? (and get a work visa)

If I would need to do a JD then there is no point in me doing my undergrad in law:( I supposed I could afford/cope with an LLM if neccessary..

I thought Id ask on here as Im guessing some of you must know some people who have tried or done it? thanks

[This is in 4 or 5 years time, when the job market may be almost back to normal over there]

UL_LLB

Hiya,

If its Business & Legal Studies you're talking then you'll be able to do the bar exam. Theres alot of red tape to go through & the exam itself is horrible but once you get through it you'd be able to look for jobs in NY. At the moment things arent good out there but they are starting to turn around so by the time you've done your degree and passed the bar (probably five years minimum) things should be much better.

Arsenal1986

There is absolutly no reason that if you put it before you now you couldn't get a job with one of the top NY firms.


As the other poster said, B and L will entitle you to sit the bar exams.

There was an exceelent article in the Law Society Gazette last month about this actually - available here - http://www.lawsociety.ie/Documents/Gazette/Gazette%202010/May2010.pdf

An LLM from a top/Ivy League Law school would really help with getting a job with a top firm. If you get excellent grades in your undergrad then you could get a fulbright scholarship to do this, more info here - http://www.cies.org/

Another option to look at is to do the Washington Ireland program during one summer of college, many ppl on this get jobs in State attorney's offices.

Also you could look into doing a summer internship with one of the NY firms with offices in the City of London.

Johno91

Thanks for the responses!
That article seems quite optimistic anyway:)

I know the UCD vs TCD thing is asked quite a lot and I dont really want to get into it, but would it make much difference to an NY firm which one I went to?

Im sure UCD BnL must have a little bit of recognition over there, as I hear it has brilliant reputation in Ireland, and must have quite a large alumni base?

Would I gain knowledge in that degree that are transferrable? Like there wouldnt be too many differences, would there?

Arsenal1986

I should preface this by saying I have not gone down this route and everything I know about it is just from a friend who has done the NY bar exam.

UCD v TCD, in my opinion for New York not much of a difference. Except that TCD is the 29th best University in the world in some rankings. (I think!) But overall no, unless its Oxford or Cambridge most US firms wouldnt be overly familiar with any non US colleges.

Not too sure B and L would have much of a 'rep' per se over there. But you are right I know of several alumni of that course practising in NY so contacts wise that could be handy. With the current state of the profession here, I'm sure the number of Irish law graduates practising there will only increase by the time you are finished your degree.

Knowledge thats transferrable - yes to a degree, as in the research and analytical skills will be theexact same. The law is also common law based, albeit codified more so than ours e.g. UCC/ Model Penal code etc. So law wise the principles will be the same - balance of probabilities, mens rea etc but the case law and legislation will be obviously diffferent. However for many law subjects in Ireland you will read many American cases as obviously its a huge and influential common law jurisdiction.