Foreign students who have not obtained a US bachelor’s degree in pre-law are admitted to a JD (i.e. basic law) programme at a US law school only in very exceptional circumstances. After completing a law school in their home country, however, it is possible to pursue a graduate law programme: for example, a Master of Laws (LLM) program.
The master of laws program is a nine-month graduate program. Americans can apply for this after their JD degree, and foreign students after completing a law degree in their home country. At some universities, admission to the LLM programme is only possible for graduates in the Anglo-American legal system (common law lawyers). However, most universities also admit graduates in other legal systems, such as the civil law system in the Netherlands.
Besides general LLM programs, there are also very specialized ones, for example in Corporate Law, Taxation, Intellectual Property, or International Law. The content of the LLM program varies from university to university. Some universities require strict adherence to the official study program, while others offer great freedom in composing the study program. It can be a disadvantage to lack basic knowledge of the US legal system when starting an LLM program. However, it is often possible or even mandatory to fill this gap by attending special orientation programmes offered prior to the official LLM program, or by taking one or more US law courses during the LLM program.
The MCL/MCJ program is also a nine-month graduate program. This program is primarily designed for civil law lawyers. The programme includes education in the US legal system and comparative study of other legal systems. During the MCL/MCJ programme, you will get an overview of the US legal system during the first semester. It is possible to take courses such as Contract and Property Law. These subjects are useful if you plan to do an internship in the US. In the second semester, it is possible to specialise.
Since the program is mainly taken by foreign lawyers, it is taken into account that students know less about the US legal system. The MCL/MCJ programs are more international than US-oriented.
The LLM degree in itself is not sufficient for foreign lawyers to be sworn in as lawyers in the US. For this, one has to pass the bar exam, to which only a few states (New York, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and California) admit foreigners with only an LLM degree.
However, it is often possible to do an internship in the US after completing the LLM or MCL/J program. At most law schools, you submit your CV to the Placement Office right at the start. You might then receive an invitation to talk to representatives of law firms. You can also start contacting a firm in the Netherlands that has offices in the US. This will make it easier to secure a paid internship at the US office later on.
For those who wish to pursue a PhD in the legal sciences, there is the possibility of obtaining a JSD (Doctor of Juridical Science). This degree can be obtained in three to five years after completing an LLM or MCL/J program. The training program focuses on conducting scientific research and teaching.
