CoL launches New York Bar programme
The College of Law (CoL) is making its first foray into the US legal market with radical plans to offer the New York Bar Exam to its Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students.
Full-time GDL students who go on to complete CoL’s Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) will be eligible to sit for the New York Bar Exam following an additional 22-week study programme. This will be available to those students who start their GDL with CoL in September 2010 and can be completed in one block or spread over a longer period of time.
Though the programme is principally targetted at domestic students CoL is hoping to attract graduates from overseas universities particularly from the US and south-east Asia.
CoL chief executive Nigel Savage said: “This is really putting London at the centre of global education. Attracting the best talent to the UK will be great for London and help sustain it as a legal services and legal education hub.”
Previously UK non-law graduates would first need to qualify as a lawyer in the UK and then complete an LL.M Masters degree in the US before being able to sit the New York Bar Exam.
The additional 22-week study programme, following completion of the GDL and then either the LPC or BPTC, includes electives in US business and securities law.
Students can take these additional electives in the UK or, subject to the outcome of current negotiations, at a top ten US law school.
Those who successfully complete the extended course will be awarded a US-style CoL Juris Doctor (JD) professional degree in law.
In a related move CoL has also announced a partnership with Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. Northwestern is assisting CoL in designing and ultimately delivering the additional electives that are required to enable students to sit the New York Bar Exam.
Separately, CoL has entered into a similar relationship with IE Law School in Madrid.
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Readers' comments (13)
Rebecca Brook-Smith | 12-Mar-2010 1:58 pm
Is this scheme likely to be available to those students who have followed the traditional route completing a law degree and then the LPC?
It appears from the wording to only be available to GDL students which i cannot see as a reasonable restriction.
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IHateBPP | 15-Mar-2010 10:41 am
I'd imagine it'll be open to anyone and everyone willing to pay.
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A College of Law spokesperson | 15-Mar-2010 12:28 pm
In answer to Rebecca Brook-Smith’s question, UK LL.B graduates, (who have taken standard 3-year law degree programmes) are already able to sit for the New York Bar Exam without undertaking any further study, under the rules of eligibility administered by the New York State Board of Law Examiners.
GDL students, on the other hand, have traditionally had to follow a much more convoluted route and to take a one-year full-time LL.M programme in the USA before they can become eligible to take the New York Bar Examination.
The new College of Law JD programme will provide non-law graduates with the option to follow an alternative, and much more direct route to the NYB Examination and therefore to qualification as a lawyer in New York.
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dazed and confused | 16-Mar-2010 4:15 pm
Why would you sign up to this? Looks like a complete waste of money!
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Curious | 16-Mar-2010 4:54 pm
Could u plz share some more details about the programme, as to where the exams are held and wat is the fee criteria, I am currently studying the LPC at BPP law school, i hope students from all the other law schools are eligible for this,
looking forward to your response
regards!
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Rebecca Brook-Smith | 17-Mar-2010 2:21 pm
Thank you for the information provided. I have been researching this with real difficulty as to what is true and what is merely oppinion. So as a LLB graduate i am eligible to take the NY bar exam, but would i have to do a prepatory course to adapt to the American system and have a realistic chance of passing the bar?
Also if anyone could point me to a reliable source for more information about how to qualify to practice in either California or NY that would be great
Thanks
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Anonymous | 17-Mar-2010 5:43 pm
In response to Rebecca Brook-Smith, if you take time to look at ALL of the bars' rules, you'll find that you can take more than just the NY or the CA bar. For example, you can practice in Texas after a number of years working as a solicitor or you can sit the Maryland bar following admittance to another state's bar.
I don't know why most people only restrict their knowledge to think that CA and NY are the only ones, because that is untrue.
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Nick | 17-Mar-2010 7:59 pm
As far as I'm aware, LLB students can sit the course whenever they want - but will have to take a preparatory course in NY law. I believe this changes after you have practised for 2 years. My girlfriend and I (both working at US firms) plan to take advantage of this.
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Nick | 17-Mar-2010 8:04 pm
Sorry, scratch that, it seems I've been misinformed. Practical experience will likely land you a job, but isn't necessary. If you've done an English Law degree (I.e. common law study in Britain), you ar eeligible to sit the exam at any point. Check the NY BOLE website, section 520.6
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obongo'08 | 17-Mar-2010 9:49 pm
Great, CoL is churning out another cash cow. I wonder how many students will buy this qualification in a misguided attempt at improving their CV. When their dreams of 70k a year in a city firm are shattered, they will start applying for smaller UK firms who couldn't care less that you bought an american qualification.
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