New York: lawyer (attorney admission) pathway
Scope
- Degree recognition
The qualifying foreign degree must be in law and from a school recognized by a competent accrediting agency of the foreign government.
“The qualifying degree must be from a law school or schools recognized by a competent accrediting agency of the government of the foreign country”
- Program approval or accreditation
The standard route is a first degree in law from a US law school ABA-approved throughout the applicant's attendance.
“Applicant attended and was graduated with a first degree in law from a law school or law schools in the United States which at all times during the period of applicant's attendance was or were approved by the American Bar Association”
- Additional education or training
Applicants with a deficiency in foreign legal education may cure it by completing an LL.M. at an approved US law school.
“If you need to "cure" a deficiency in your foreign legal education by completing an LL.M. degree at an approved law school in the United States”
- Examination requirements
Not confirmed. Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator.
- Supervised practice
Law office study or clerkship, combined with ABA-approved law school study, is a permitted route under Rule 520.4.
“The applicant must study law in the law office for a period of four years under the supervision of an attorney who is admitted to practice law in New York”
- Foreign qualification assessment
First-time Rule 520.6 applicants must request an advance evaluation of eligibility before applying for the bar examination.
“all first-time applicants under Rule 520.6 must request an advance evaluation of their eligibility before they file an application for the bar examination”
- Residency or other restrictions
Not confirmed. Professional eligibility must be confirmed with the relevant regulator.
- Online study
Degrees obtained by distance education, correspondence, external, internet or self-study do not qualify, except within the Rule 520.3(c) distance-education limits.
“law degrees obtained by distance education, correspondence, external study, internet or self-study do not qualify an individual to take the New York bar examination”
Regulator: New York State Board of Law Examiners · official source for this record · last checked 1 November 2026.