California Bar Requirements for Foreign Lawyers

25 February, 2026

Becoming a licensed attorney in the U.S. after previously working as a lawyer abroad requires preparation and you must meet the state eligibility requirements. After all, lawyers have a major responsibility to their clients, the court system and the country as a whole.

In order to sit for the California State Bar Exam, international lawyers who received their education abroad will need to undergo additional education and other steps to verify that they are prepared to practice law in the states with expertise and integrity. 

It is important to note that not all internationally trained lawyers will need to undergo further education, however. Those who have been fully admitted to the practice of law in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, they can take the California Bar Examination without additional legal education.

This article will go over the California Bar Exam requirements for foreign lawyers, including specific requirements based on whether your legal education was U.S.-based or international. We will also share some ways that you can academically prepare yourself for this exam.

General Requirements

Foreign lawyers looking to take the California State Bar Exam to qualify as a licensed attorney in California will follow different pathways based on their educational background.

Consider the following statements to jump to the section most relevant to you:

→ I have a U.S. law degree, but have been practicing law abroad

→ I have a law degree from a university outside of the U.S.

→ I do not have a law degree yet

Requirements With a U.S. Law Degree

Source: State Bar of California

If a non-U.S.-based lawyer earned their Juris Doctor degree in the United States, they are generally qualified to take the California State Bar. There are some requirements for U.S.-based JD programs, however. They must be approved by the American Bar Association and/or registered by the State Bar of California. Legal professionals should always ensure accuracy with bar authorities.

Requirements With a Foreign Law Degree

Source: State Bar of California

For professionals with a law degree from a university outside of the U.S. but are not admitted to practice in the U.S. or a foreign jurisdiction, there are three main steps to follow:

1. Certify that the law degree qualifies you to take the California Bar
2. Gain a qualifying amount of credit hours in a Master of Laws (LLM) program
3. Apply for the California State Bar Exam

Certifying Your Law Degree

If you have a foreign legal education that includes your first degree in law, you will be eligible to take the California Bar Exam if you can demonstrate that your degree is either:

• Equivalent to the Juris Doctor degree from a law school that has either been approved by the ABA or accredited by the California State Bar

or

• Meets the educational requirements for admission to practice law are used in the foreign country where you got that degree.

To prove that your degree meets one of these requirements, you will need to submit an evaluated course breakdown of your full legal education. This can be done by requesting that a credential evaluation agency approved by the California State Bar complete a Foreign Law Study Evaluation Summary Form for you.

Participating in a Master of Laws Program

In addition, foreign lawyers will need to complete a certain number of semester hours of a Master of Laws (LLM) program offered by an ABA-approved or CBE-accrediated law school. To meet the LLM coursework requirement, you’ll need to do one of the following:

• Earn a Master of Law degree (LLM) that includes at least 20 credit/semester hours of legal education
• Successfully complete 20 semester or equivalent units of legal education, in a LLM program

Whether you earn a full Master of Laws degree or just take the minimum number of credits required, you will need to make sure the coursework includes the following:

• At least 12 credit/semester hours (through one or more courses) that cover four separate subjects tested on the California Bar Examination
• One course in professional responsibility that covers the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and leading federal and state case law on the subject

When applying to take the California State Bar Exam, you will need to submit a certificate from your law school that certifies that this educational requirement has been met. 

Applying for the California State Bar

Once you have completed those steps, you can then register as a law student with the California State Bar Office of Admissions through their Applicant Portal and apply for the bar. Registering as a law student is not equivalent to submitting an application for the state bar exam. Registering as a law student simply enters you into the system as someone who intends to practice law.

Once you have registered, you will then mail official sealed transcript(s) to the Office of Admissions and submit an application. Once your application is approved and your transcripts have been accepted, you will be eligible to take the California Bar Exam.

Requirements Without a Qualifying Law Degree

Source: State Bar of California

If you have a legal education that does not qualify as a first degree in law (Juris Doctor or equivalent), you will need to follow these steps before you can sit for the California Bar Exam as a foreign attorney:

1. Provide a breakdown of all of your post-secondary education to show that you completed the equivalent of at least two years of undergraduate studies.
   • This can be certified through the Foreign Law Study Evaluation Summary form, which will be completed by a credential evaluation agency that the State Bar has approved.
2. Show your competence by either:
   • Passing the First-Year Law Students’ Examination
     OR
   • Receiving an exemption from the exam after completing a year of law study in a JD degree program at either a California State Bar-accredited or ABA-approved law school.
3. Complete legal education in the United States in one of the following ways:
   • Earn a JD from a law school that has been approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the State Bar of California.
   • Complete four years of legal studies at a law school that is registered with the State Bar.
   • Finish four years of legal studies through the Law Office Study Program.

After these steps have been completed, the steps are the same as those who earned their first law degree abroad. You’ll need to register as a law student with the California State Bar’s Office of Admissions, submit your transcripts and forms and then apply to sit for the State Bar.

Northeastern Law’s LLM Bar Examination Prep Track

If you plan on taking the California Bar Exam, Northeastern University School of Law’s Master of Studies in Law offers a Bar Examination Prep track that provides academic preparation. While the LLM degree does not necessarily qualify foreign attorneys to take the California Bar Exam, it does provide extensive training in U.S. law and the legal system

The curriculum included in this track goes over essential topics, including courses such as:

• U.S. Law & Legal System 
• Professional Responsibility
• Contracts
• Torts
• Constitutional Law
• Civil Procedure
• Criminal Law
• Business Organizations

The online Master of Laws program was designed for working professionals, allowing you to continue your education without sacrificing the personal and professional commitments that are important to you. The program also includes a legal immersion experience, which is an optional one-week residential experience that allows students to visit local legal and governmental organizations, learn from industry leaders and practice applying concepts from their studies in a real-world setting.

About the Online Master of Laws (LLM) From Northeastern University

Northeastern Law’s 100% online Master of Laws (LLM) was designed for both the global practice of law, and for international lawyers to gain a better understanding of the U.S. legal system.

The online LLM program focuses on Bar Examination Preparation, and also includes elective courses in Intellectual Property and International Business.

Northeastern Law’s Master of Laws program was designed with input from a legal advisory group, featuring a curriculum of industry-informed courses that allow students to enhance their practical skills and foundational knowledge.