New York Bar and California Bar FAQs

What State Bar Preparation Programme do you provide?

New York Bar Classroom Programme

Classes are held in Central London and Manchester.*

These are delivered using state of the art equipment and supported by the Course Director who facilitates question and answer sessions. The classes are exam driven, thoroughly preparing you for the New York Bar State Bar exam.

*Commencing February 2011 subject to numbers

Why choose Bar/Bri - CLT?

The Bar/Bri course is taken by 9 out of every 10 US candidates. When you are sitting in the exam hall it’s a great confidence booster to know you are at least as well prepared as the competition!

CLT gives you an experienced and approachable Course Director and the flexibility to pay your fees in interest free instalments.

Who is the Course Director?

Denis Carey, Solicitor (England & Wales and Ireland), Attorney at Law (California). Denis has 16+ years experience of running CLT’s New York Bar preparation programme.

How much does the Classroom Programme cost?

The course fee totals £2950 + VAT and this includes the cost of the course materials.

Can I pay instalments?

The classroom programme can be paid by interest free instalments. A £500 + VAT deposit must be paid upon application. The first instalment of £1225 + VAT will be due the last working day of March for the February programme or the last working day of October for the September programme. The second instalment of £1225 + VAT will be due the last working day of April for the February programme or last working day of November for the September programme.

When does the Lecture Programme commence?

September (in preparation for the February examination) and February (in preparation for the July examination) of each year.

Where and when do the lectures take place?

The course runs over a 5 month period. Classes take place in Central London and Manchester* on Friday evenings (6pm - 10pm) and Saturdays (9.30am - 6pm). Occasionally, Sundays are used for simulated exams, catch-up sessions and the FAR.

There will also be study breaks built into the programme.

*Commencing February 2011 subject to numbers.

What is the Foreign Attorney’s Review Programme?

The Foreign Attorney’s Review (FAR) developed exclusively with Bar/Bri is delivered by CLT for its UK students preparing to sit the New York State Bar exam. No other provider offers such a comprehensive review of the New York Bar exam from the perspective of a UK candidate. It is a unique product designed solely for NY bar exam candidates who haven’t been to law school in the US.

The FAR programme is a 3 day course that has been recently added to the CLT New York Classroom Programme. The review covers frequently tested topics in major subject areas unfamiliar to foreign attorneys such as Contract, Corporations, Criminal Law and New York Practice.

It is delivered by Professor Leonard Lakin, an ex-New York State Bar examiner and a member of the Bar/Bri Review Faculty.

What if I am unable to attend all classes?

Should a candidate miss a class, the audio is available to hire for a fee. Audio request forms and a price list will be distributed at the beginning of the classroom programme.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Our experience is that the New York Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) generally accepts foreign legal education which incorporates as a minimum a 3 year full time or 4 year part time course of academic law study (with no element of non-law study or distance learning) in a common law jurisdiction.

Therefore, most UK students with a qualifying law degree will be eligible (a qualifying law degree is one that is recognised by the Law Society and acceptable to take the LPC or BVC).

Eligibility must always be confirmed by BOLE and it is free to do so. For further information please visit the BOLE website www.nybarexam.org and complete the online Foreign Evaluation Form www.nybarapply.org/feval/.

What if I am found not to be eligible to sit the Bar exam?

CLT will refund all course fees upon return of the course materials if that candidate subsequently turns out not to be eligible. Please see terms and conditions which can be found on the registration form.

I know nothing about US law. How do I prepare for the exam?

Don’t worry. Most of the subjects are based on the English Common Law. CLT (in association with Bar/Bri) provide a superb course designed to prepare UK candidates for the New York Bar exams. Bar/Bri has designed a comprehensive program of outlines, lectures, workshops and testing materials to maximise your ability to pass the New York Bar exam.

How do I apply to take the exam?

You can simply download an application form from the BOLE website www.nybarexam.org.

There is an application filing period to which you must adhere. Generally, applications are to be made during the month of April for the July Bar exam and November for the February Bar exam. Late applications are not accepted.

What format will the New York Bar examinations take?

Day One - State Portion

The first day is referred to as the “New York day” to distinguish it from the “Multistate day” which is on day two.

The morning session is 3 hours 15 minutes exactly (9am to 12.15pm). There are three essay questions and 50 Multiple Choice questions. The afternoon session is 3 hours exactly (1.30pm - 4.30pm). There is one Multistate Performance Test (MPT) and two essay questions. The MPT is a strictly timed 90 minute test.

Day Two - Multistate Portion (MBE)

The 200 question, multiple choice Multistate Bar Exam is held on the second day of the New York Bar exam.

What is the Multistate Professional Responsibility (MPRE) Examination?

You must sit and pass the MPRE before you can be admitted to the NY Bar. It tests the ethics and professional responsibility of practising lawyers. The examination consists of 50 multiple choice questions.

Do I have to pay for another course for the MPRE?

No - our course fee includes tuition for the MPRE.

Where and when does the MPRE take place?

The MPRE is held three times a year - in March, August and November. It is only held in the US but you can sit it in any state - you do not have to go to New York.

How do I apply for the MPRE?

The MPRE is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. Detailed information can be found at www.ncbex.org.

Do I have to go to the US to take the exam?

Yes - you prepare in the UK, and then fly to the US to sit the Bar exam. The majority of UK candidates are placed in Albany or Buffalo, however places are available in Manhattan.

Please note the Course Director travels out with the main group to the US each exam round and delivers a Final Review lecture prior to the exams (extra charge applicable).

When do the examinations take place?

The examinations are held twice a year, generally on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and July.

When are the examination results published?

Historically results are available from the July exam mid to late November and mid to late May from the February exam. Result notices are sent through the mail and are also available on-line.

Do most candidates pass?

CLT are unable to calculate pass rates as the results are sent directly to the candidate from BOLE.

However, the overall pass rate can be seen on the BOLE website following each exam round www.nybarexam.org.

Should I fail the Bar exam what support is provided?

To those that are not successful, our advice is to "get back in the saddle" immediately.

Within reason students can attend refresher lectures at no additional cost. Please contact the Programme Co-Ordinator Jodie Benton, by email on jbenton@clt.co.uk or on 0121 3627656, and she will be happy to help you.

Should students wish to re-enrol on the complete programme and receive new course materials they can do so at a 50% discounted rate.

Can I practice as an Attorney in New York as soon as I have passed the examination?

Yes. Once you have passed the Bar and MPRE exams and completed the admission process you will be fully qualified. Unlike the UK, there is no further training required. You must make a formal petition for admission; you will be asked to give details about your employment history, personal background and character reference. There is a provision for personal interviews.

Will I get a job on qualification?

There is no guarantee of finding work in the US once you have passed the Bar examination, as in the UK the market is competitive. However it will raise your professional profile and enhance your marketability giving you an advantage when finding work.

It is thought that those already practising as barristers and solicitors will have an advantage over new attorneys who have no previous legal work experience. Also there are a large amount of American law firms based in the UK who recruit people who possess American Bar Qualifications.

The qualification opens door otherwise closed, but after that it is up to the individual. Further information can be found on our useful links page.

What is CLE?

In the UK we refer to ongoing mandatory training as CPD (Continuing Professional Development). In the US, it is known as CLE (Continuing Legal Education). There is a wide selection of CLE providers available offering accredited courses over the internet; CLE can be complied with by distance learning/internet provision.

It is advisable to constantly monitor these requirements as they are subject to change. Further information can be obtained from the BOLE website, or alternatively from the American Bar Association.

As an Attorney am I entitled to practice outside of New York?

Admission in New York does not per se entitle you to practice in any other state. Admission as an Attorney is on a state-by-state basis in the US. Some states have a “reciprocity” arrangement which allows attorneys to waive in without examination. The candidate should check the actual situation directly with the admitting authority.

Can qualifying as a New York Attorney provide an alternative route to qualification in the UK?

Yes, qualifying as a US attorney gives you an alternative route for qualification as a Solicitor of England and Wales, through the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme without taking the LPC, completing a training contract or the PSC. For further information please visit www.sra.org.uk.

What if I am unable to attend the classroom programme?

Those students unable to attend either of the classroom locations for logistical reasons are encouraged to enrol upon the home study program directly through Bar/Bri. For further information and to download the home study application form please visit www.clt.co.uk.

Can I apply to sit the California Bar exam?

You may wish to consider taking the California Bar Exams. The California Bar is available to qualified solicitors and barristers of England and Wales and other common law countries only. A law degree is not necessary.

Unfortunately we do not have sufficient numbers to run a classroom programme for California students. Therefore the only option available to you is the home study program.

For more information and to download the home study application form please visit www.clt.co.uk.

Can I claim CPD points?

The SRA has fully accredited the CLT New York Bar Classroom Programme. The course will meet a solicitor’s CPD requirements as follows:

For newly qualified solicitors and RELs:

• One hour for each complete month worked from date of admission/registration to 31 October (Those admitted/registered on 1 November will go straight into their first year)

• 16 hours