Non-ABA J.D. + ABA LLM = Not eligible for D.C. Bar

[passaroa25]

While doing research on this attend law school mission, I realized that the 26 credits required by the District of Columbia State Bar, need to be in the subjects that the bar exam tests:  Torts, Contracts, Wills and Trusts, etc.  So far, no school offering an LLM includes those subjects in its curriculum.  And, some of the LLM programs are 20 to 24 credits; not 26.

[pacelaw2013]

Just another reason to stay away from those non-aba schools. They are NOT good schools, not matter what way you want to argue. Unless you are staying in a state that recognizes that specific school, have a job lined up, and are in no danger of moving out of state, they are one of the worst investments you can have. I can not emphasize that enough. If not only for thier HORRIBLE bar passage rates, just the fact that most states will NOT let you even SIT AT THE BAR EXAM.

[betazed]

Florida Coastal offers an online 26 hour LLM for foreign lawyers that is likely to satisfy the DC requirements. 

The only issue seems to be the 1-hour Intro course.

[passaroa25]

Florida Coastal (along with other LLM programs) explicitly excludes Americans with a non ABA J.D.

[gallagheria]

This cannot be entirely true because this is what led to the Georgia Supreme Court case where the girl had graduated from a non-accredited school but had an LLM from an ABA-accredited school. So there must be some ABA LLM schools that allow non-ABA students in.

[pacelaw2013]

This cannot be entirely true because this is what led to the Georgia Supreme Court case where the girl had graduated from a non-accredited school but had an LLM from an ABA-accredited school. So there must be some ABA LLM schools that allow non-ABA students in.

What part wasn't true? The poster didn't say allLLMs exclude non-ABA students, the poster only said Florida Costal and others (others doesn't mean every other).

Evidence is still overwhelming....non-ABA schools are not worth it unless you are 100% staying in that state that the school is in, have a job lined up, and have no intention of going to other states.

[passaroa25]

There are some LLM programs that accept non ABA J.D. graduates.  However,  the D.C. bar requires 26 credits in subjects tested on the bar exam.  There are different tracks for foreign educated lawyers and Americans with J.D.  Only those tracks that accept foreign lawyers teach the courses that the D.C. bar tests.  Those tracks that Americans are steered into do not teach all the subjects that are tested on the bar exam. Reverse discrimination?

[pacelaw2013]

For mine I should clarify, American's should not go to an American non ABA accredited school. Even if it is foriegn though, it is the right of the bar administrators to determine the merits of people who will practice. Every ABA law school admits foreign students, so how is it descrimination?

[passaroa25]

It appears to be reverse discrimination because those students with foreign law degrees are eligible to apply for an LLM program that includes courses that the bar exam tests; while Americans with a J.D. are not eligible to earn an LLM via that track.  They take courses most of which do not teach what the bar exam tests.

[pacelaw2013]

Americans with a J.D.

Americans with an unapproved JD is more accurate. Again, going to those schools, you need to know the risks. They close a lot of doors, because frankly, there are a lot of scam schools out there that just want your money.

Look at the former SNESL (Southern New England School of Law), their bar passage percentage was in the high 20's, last year, non-ABA approved schools went 0/11 in Georgia. They are not good schools, and are not producing many quality lawyers, which is part of the reason that they are not accredited. Knowing that, and knowing that most states do not recognize those schools it is your own fault if you go there and are held back a bit. However, if you go to a foriegn school (especially if you are not from the USA) you are attending (likely) a quality school in the other regions, and it would be blatent exclusion based on not being a US educated person.

In the end it comes to, you need to know what you are getting into. The ABA approval, is a big deal. As much as those schools try to downplay it, its a HUGE deal. Not having that, closes so many doors its rediculous.