BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep alumni resources
What to do once you sit and pass a U.S. bar exam
Now that you are a BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep alumnus, what happens next? You will need to complete a few additional steps outlined by the state bar associations (regulatory organizations) to fully qualify in New York, California or Texas. You will also want to take advantage of helpful networking and career resources available to international students and foreign-trained lawyers. We have compiled everything right here for easy, quick reference.
Start by paying your dues
Once you are admitted to practice law in the state where you passed the bar exam, you will file a Certificate of Registration with that state's bar association and pay the required dues and fees. Renewal with payment occurs typically each year or every two years depending on the state - here are the details for New York, California and Texas. The attorney registration fee may increase based on the number of years you have been in practice.
In the future, when you are up for renewal of your attorney registration, it is important to do so and on time. Otherwise, you will be considered delinquent and out-of-compliance by the state bar association and possibly suspended from practice.
Once you register as a new U.S. attorney, you will receive your attorney registration card and number. Your attorney registration number will stay the same as long as you are admitted to practice in the state. Courts and other entities may require your attorney registration number and card for identification purposes. You will also use your number when requesting credit for attending new lawyer training programs and continuing legal education (CLE) courses.
Fulfill your CLE credits
In most U.S. states and jurisdictions, once you are admitted to the bar, you will need to complete a minimum number of continuing legal education credits and submit proof of your CLE completion to your state bar association. Check with your state bar association for available CLE classes.
Some states only require lawyers who are actively practicing law in the state to complete CLE credits. Some states require the credits to be completed on a bi-annual basis. Be sure to clearly understand the rules for your state/jurisdiction in order to satisfy the specific number of CLE credits you will need. The amount of CLE courses you can take for CLE credit will vary, as well.
Perhaps more importantly, remember that if you do not meet the minimum CLE requirement or fail to report your credit hours to the state bar association, you could face a hefty fine, suspension or possible disbarment (loss of license to practice law, in more extreme cases of non-compliance).
To help you plan ahead, here are the state bar association CLE requirements webpages for New York, California and Texas - the U.S. jurisdictions most popular with international students and foreign-trained lawyers.
Leverage exclusive BARBRI partnerships
Now that you are a BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep alumnus and have passed a U.S. bar exam, your next goal is landing a job. How do you get there? Our strategic partnerships with The Legal 500, The Lex 100 and New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) are good places to start for BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep students and alumni:
- Instant access to The Legal 500 online jobs board and The Lex 100 online job banks
- Free 2-year NYSBA International Section membership exclusively for BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep students and alumni (plus a 10% discount off BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep and QLTS Prep courses)
Here are some additional, helpful career-focused websites you may also want to check out:
BARBRI has helped over 1.3 million lawyers across the world pass a U.S. bar exam during the past 50+ years. Our alumni are successfully employed at companies and law firms throughout the United States and around the world - reputable organizations and industry leaders like Ernst & Young, Deutsche Bank, PWC, Facebook, Google, Clifford Chance, Baker & McKenzie, and White and Case. Our alumni also work in diverse international legal positions such as the European Legal Parliament and International Criminal Court.
Activate your NYSBA membership
BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep students and alumni receive a free 2-year membership to the NYSBA International Section and one additional section of choice.
Why are we working with NYSBA to offer this benefit? It is "THE" voice of the legal profession in New York, and a great way to network and advance your international legal career - even if you are not or do not plan to be licensed in New York. With tens of thousands of members worldwide, NYSBA offers unprecedented networking opportunities. Plus, through the International Section, you can participate in seminars and conferences on important international law topics worldwide.
Join free today! Email : Carra Forgea at cforgea@nysba.org
How to receive your 10% discount off BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep and QLTS Prep course:
- Select "NYSBA International Section" on the "How did you hear about us" option on the BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep enrollment form
- Add your NYSBA ID number on the comments field
- Include the code "nysbaintl10" under the "Promo Code" field on the enrollment form
Hear from those who have done it
Each success story is as unique as it is inspiring. You will find that BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep was an important decision for many different reasons.
When BARBRI approached Catriona, associate lawyer at a London law firm, she thought it was an exciting opportunity - the New York Bar Exam being an international passport to work in any common law jurisdiction in the world. Catriona studied for the exam with the BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep, online course. When the time came, she flew to New York and passed the New York Bar Exam the first time.
After hearing a few success stories at a BARBRI event, Tanika McDonald, consultant lawyer with Eversheds Agile, was convinced. She took the next step toward U.S. qualification with BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep, preparing for the New York Bar Exam. The course's flexibility allowed Tanika to efficiently manage her time between study and work. The course's simulated exams were also a significant advantage.
Being an advocate for people in need of legal assistance was a childhood dream come to reality for Vivian Ji, a legal manager in China. After completing her LL.M., she went on to pass the New York Bar Exam using BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep. The U.S. Law Foundation pre-course proved especially helpful for Vivian as she studied to become a U.S. qualified attorney.
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