New York Bar Exam for non-law graduates

The new route follows discussions with New York State Court of Appeals and the New York State Board of Law Examiners.  The CoL is the first UK legal education provider offering direct access to the exam for non-law graduates and gives an alternative career route to those unable to secure a pupillage or training contract in the UK.

Previously, in order to sit the New York Bar Exam candidates had to be qualified lawyers and complete an LLM Masters degree in the US. But from September this year, CoL students taking its Graduate Diploma in Law conversion course followed by either the LPC or BPTC will be able to sit for the New York Bar Exam after a further 22-week study programme.

Nigel Savage, Chief Executive of the CoL, said: “This initiative raises us well above our competitors and is a vindication of our commitment to maintaining quality and standards. The process was very rigorous, but very fair. The reality is that if students want to work on the global stage they have to qualify either as an English lawyer or at the New York Bar.

“This programme allows the non-law graduate to have that choice. It means that if they cannot secure one of the ever decreasing training contract places or pupillages they still have the option to take the New York Bar Exam.”