Why I chose NSL

[jeffjoe]

Which states do you know of that will allow you to practice if you pass the bar here?

Pennsylvania is the only one I can remember right now.  You could go to each state's supreme court website to find out.

[lawgroupie]

yippee! Because if I ever move, it will likely be to PA!

[ptlaw]

Go to http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2003/legalstudy.pdf and you can get the bar requirements for the fifty states and US territories.

This chart contains a lot of interesting information. For example, several states still allow people to read for the bar (you study with an attorney, instead of going to law school).

PT

[Coregram]

I go to a non ABA accredited school in Mass.  We can sit in several states after passing the bar here, some after experience and some immediately.

I know our school has been active in going to various states to make the case for allowing our graduates to sit for the bar, which has helped open some doors.  It took alot of work by the school and a few court actions (including suing the ABA,) but they were successful in some states.  You might want to push your school and its alumni to lobby the nearby states change their rules and allow you to sit.

Remember, each state has the right to set its own rules.  The states that only allow ABA accredited graduates to sit are lazy and/or have buckled to the ABA's pressure by simply defering to the ABA.  If non ABA accredited graduates could sit, the ABA schools would have a tougher time getting people to pay 30K a year.  The states should go out and do their own homework to see if graduates of your school are qualified (which I bet most are) instead of giving a blank check to the ABA to decide which schools qualify and which don't.

[Chuck Milam]

My home state of Wisconsin is one, with a twist.

The complete info on bar admission requirements is at the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which happens to be based in Wisconsin:  http://www.ncbex.org/

[ptlaw]

NSL graduates can sit for the bar in Wisconsin, too.

NSL graduates can practice on the federal level in any state or territory.

PT

My home state of Wisconsin is one, with a twist.

The complete info on bar admission requirements is at the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which happens to be based in Wisconsin: http://www.ncbex.org/

[jeffjoe]

Go to http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2003/legalstudy.pdf and you can get the bar requirements for the fifty states and US territories.

This chart contains a lot of interesting information. For example, several states still allow people to read for the bar (you study with an attorney, instead of going to law school).

PT

Read this info carefully.  For example, Alabama says you can sit for the board if you graduate from a non-ABA out of state school, BUT it has to be from a state with which Alabama has a reciprocal agreement.  Here's the kicker.  No states have such agreements with Alabama.

DC says non-aba can sit for the bar, but you have to have 26 credits at an ABA school.

[jeffjoe]

Here's my summary of states that allow non-ABA JD to take the bar exam

Arizona       5 years in the last 7
Colorado       ditto
Kentucyky     3 years in the last 5 and they evaluate your education
Maine         3 years
Michigan  says you must graduate from a "reputable" school and "it has not been the practice to grant approval status unless a school is at least provisionally approved by the ABA"
Nevada        10 years and an evaluation
New Mexico    5 years in the last 6
New York      5 in the last 7
Pennsylvania  5 in the last 7
Texas         3 in the last 5
Utah          licensed 5 years and 4 years of practice in the last 5
West Virginia must show your non-ABA education is equivalent to ABA education
Wisconsin     a JD and passed the bar in home state

[Chuck Milam]

Kentucy ky     3 years in the last 5 and they evaluate your education

Kentucky has rejected NSL applications for the bar exam before.  See:  In re Brooks, 11 S.W.3d 25.

[jeffjoe]

Kentucy ky     3 years in the last 5 and they evaluate your education

Kentucky has rejected NSL applications for the bar exam before.  See:  In re Brooks, 11 S.W.3d 25.

We hates Kentucky.