United States Whilst there is a large legal market in the US, New York has traditionally been the most receptive state to lawyers who have qualified in Australia. This is common for lawyers who practice in areas such as mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and banking and finance. California is also quite a receptive state, but in a more narrow sense. Australian lawyers who move to California tend to practice in areas such as project financing, intellectual property, and technology. Washington DC is another possible location, but it is harder for Australian qualified lawyers to break into practice in this area because the Washington legal market has a significant US government focus. Those interested in working here are advised to enter through New York and then move after gaining US experience and a US Bar qualification or Masters. These are currently the only three US jurisdictions in which Australian lawyers can work. This because in the US, being admitted to a state Bar only permits the barrister to practice in one state - i.e. being admitted to the New York Bar only permits the barrister to practice in the state of New York. Only these three Bars do not require certain units of study which can only be taken in the US. US firms do not usually recruit out of Australia at graduate level as they traditionally take their first year lawyers from the US university JD programs. It is important to note that in firms in practice areas that are able to be translated across borders. The lateral hire
move is usually around the two to four year level. Many Australian lawyers who move over to the US also practice Australian law for clients with a US presence. Most US firms do not require Australian lawyers to already have US Bar qualifications. However, they will require Australian lawyers to sit the Bar Exams within 12 months to become fully qualified US Attorneys. US firms will generally provide assistance in the preparation for Bar Exams. This includes giving lawyers study leave as the pass mark is 75%. Please note that the information provided above is by no means definitive, and is meant to provide some general information. We advise students to do their own research. Please find below, a list of useful resources and links: UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS: http://www. utexas.edu/law/career/LLM_ Licensure. pdf/ AMERICAN SOCIETY OF INTERNATIONAL LAW: http://www.asil.org/ AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION: http://www.americanbar.org/ CALIFORNIA BAR WEBSITE: http:// www.calbar.ca.gov/ NEW YORK BAR WEBSITE: https:// www.nysba.org/ the US, the LLB is not offered; US graduates are from a JD program. Students who wish to work in the US as lawyers are advised to first gain experience with the larger Australian
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