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Indian LLB to the New York or California bar

Most U.S. states require a U.S. J.D. New York and California are two that let people with a foreign law degree sit their bar exam, each with its own rules.

For: LLB students, graduates and lawyers from India and other countries.

See the roadmap Law (Pre-Law to J.D. and the Bar) guideDates to watch

Route 1: New York (Rule 520.6) NY BOLE

Run by the New York State Board of Law Examiners under Court of Appeals Rule 520.6.

  1. Start here

    A law degree from a common-law country

    It must qualify you to practise at home, from a recognised school. New York measures its length against a U.S. J.D.: 83 credit hours, 64 of them in class.

    NY BOLE
    Foreign Legal Education (Rule 520.6 eligibility and advance evaluation)New York State Board of Law Examiners
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  2. Apply

    Advance evaluation by the Board

    Every first-time foreign applicant must ask for it before applying for the exam. It can take up to 6 months once all papers arrive.

    NY BOLE
    Foreign Legal Education (Rule 520.6 eligibility and advance evaluation)New York State Board of Law Examiners
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. Study

    U.S. LL.M., if you need a cure

    At an ABA-approved school: at least 24 credits over 2 or more semesters, finished within 24 months, including professional responsibility, legal writing, American legal studies and 6 credits of bar subjects. It fixes a length gap or a content gap, not both.

    22 NYCRR 520.6
    22 NYCRR § 520.6: study of law in a foreign countryNew York Court of Appeals (text via Legal Information Institute, Cornell)
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
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  4. Exam gate

    New York bar exam

    Plus the New York Law Course, the New York Law Exam and the MPRE ethics exam.

    22 NYCRR 520.9
    22 NYCRR § 520.9 — New York Law Course, New York Law Examination and MPRENew York Court of Appeals (text via Legal Information Institute, Cornell)
    Checked
    9 Oct 2026
    View source

  5. Goal

    Admitted in New York

    After 50 hours of pro bono work, the skills competency requirement and a character and fitness interview.

    NY BOLE
    Admission to practice in New YorkNew York State Board of Law Examiners
    Checked
    9 Oct 2026
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LL.M. deadlines
If you need an LL.M., send the evaluation and all papers by 1 May (for next February's exam) or 1 Oct (for next July's) of the year before.
NY BOLE
Foreign Legal Education (Rule 520.6 eligibility and advance evaluation)New York State Board of Law Examiners
Checked
19 Oct 2026
View source
Exam fee
$750. New York advises LL.M. applicants to wait for the eligibility decision before paying: the fee is not refunded if you turn out to be ineligible.
NY BOLE
Foreign Legal Education (Rule 520.6 eligibility and advance evaluation)New York State Board of Law Examiners
Checked
19 Oct 2026
View source
UK conversion route
GDL + LPC (or the Bar course) does not meet Rule 520.6(b)(1), even if a school calls it an LL.B.; those applicants use 520.6(b)(2).
NY BOLE
Foreign Legal Education (Rule 520.6 eligibility and advance evaluation)New York State Board of Law Examiners
Checked
19 Oct 2026
View source

Route 2: California (Rule 4.30) State Bar of CA

Run by the State Bar of California, Office of Admissions.

  1. Start here

    Already admitted as a lawyer abroad?

    If you are fully admitted to practise law in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, you can take the California Bar Exam without more study.

    State Bar of CA
    Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  2. Check

    Not admitted: get your law degree evaluated

    A State Bar-approved agency must show your first law degree equals a U.S. J.D., or meets the rules for practising law in the country that gave it (course-by-course report).

    State Bar of CA
    Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. Study

    One year of law study in the U.S.

    At an ABA-approved or California-accredited law school (an LL.M.), as the State Bar's guidelines set out. Register as a law student first.

    State Bar of CA
    Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  4. Exam gate

    California Bar Exam

    Mail a sealed official transcript once the LL.M. is done so the State Bar can confirm you are eligible.

    State Bar of CA
    Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

  5. Goal

    Licensed in California

    State Bar of CA
    Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
    Checked
    19 Oct 2026
    View source

No law degree?
If your foreign law study did not end in a degree: show 2 years of undergraduate study, pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination (or be exempt), then a J.D. or 4 years of registered law study in the U.S.
State Bar of CA
Foreign Education (Rule 4.30)The State Bar of California
Checked
19 Oct 2026
View source

Dates and rules to re-check

These change by season or by law. Checked 19 Oct 2026.

  • New York's bar exam changes to NextGen from July 2028.
    NY BOLE
    New York State Board of Law Examiners — NextGen announcement and exam calendarNew York State Board of Law Examiners
    Checked
    9 Oct 2026

    Court of Appeals announcement of 8 Jan 2025: NextGen replaces the UBE from the July 2028 New York exam.

    View source
Back to the full Law (Pre-Law to J.D. and the Bar) guide

The home-grown route, pay and what the work is like.

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Every step links to the official page it came from (regulators, licensing boards, the law), checked 19 Oct 2026. Rules for people trained abroad change often: confirm with the official body before you pay any fee. Education Margdarshan does not recommend paid courses. All careers →