A white ago, I found a website called 'The New York Bar Co.'
According to the site, here are some 'compelling' reasons to take the NY Bar Exam:
“Become a UK Barrister without the Bar Vocational Course
To take the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (QLTT) and become a UK Solicitor without the need for the Legal Practice Course or a training contract
To take the Bar Aptitude Test (BAT) and become a UK Barrister without the need for the Bar Vocational Course
And then there's another statement:
"The New York Bar Company Ltd is pleased to announce its relationship with Michael Page legal recruitment. If you have a good 2.1 LLB and the LPC, send your CV to ***** (paralegal manager) at Michael Page - and don't forget with our New York Bar Course you will not need to find a training contract in order to qualify as a UK Solicitor".
Is that a Plan B or what? ;D
Actually, Mel who writes 'A girl walks into a bar' blog has undertook the New York Bar Exams.
All these promises sounds very unrealistic to me, taking into account the length of the course and the fact that a lot of teaching is apparently done by video-lectures! What about the practical skills taught on the BVC and LPC?!
But, unlike the OTC, these guys included some small print, to explain that you can become a UK solicitor*:
* With appropriate UK paralegal experience - please note that individual circumstances apply. If your purpose in taking the NY bar course is to become a UK Solicitor always check with the Solicitors Regulation Authority or our course director for an individualised assessment
7 comments:
While I think its a very worthwhile qualification, I am unsure what I would do with it - unless of course, I intended my putative practice to be properly international, which Mel, bieng a true enthusiast of international law, will more than likely attain/develop!!
Exactly, Minxy!
I had reasons other than international law enthusiasm, I must say. Namely, the desire to be in New York for a while, and with Boy being a Yankee it made sense!
Actually - all the teaching is by video lectures! You can opt for live lectures but they start a week earlier. And there is no 'skills' training. Just black letter law. Its like doing MCTS in all the core subjects, plus a bunch more (about 14 or 15 altogether). The NY MCTs are much harder than the BVC MCTs- I realised this when I opened my Civil MCT exam book and was pleasantly surprised.
But again NO skills coverage. I've no idea how you could then go on to practice in the States, let alone over here!
I remember talking to an agency a while ago, before I did the NY Bar, and she told me about some people who had tried to do the NY Bar as a way of 'skipping' the vocational training stage here, and indeed the need to find a training contract. She seemed to be of the opinion that this was a loophole and the Bar Council/Law Society were intend on closing up it.
Even if it was technically legit, although it would be a way to save on the cost of the BVC/LPC, is it worth that long term when you consider how Chambers will view that?
I know most people, students and barristers seem to think the BVC is useless - but they still expect people to do it!
Sorry, an additional comment. They charge 1,900GBP plus other stuff, which is not unreasonable when the leading provider charges $3000 in the states.
But I do think they misrepresent the point of taking the NY Bar to train as a solicitor/barrister. The fact that they put up pictures of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama as incentives to do this...hmm didn't they go to the likes of Harvard and Yale? Which do not cost 1,900GBP and take a few months, last time I checked.
Also the fact that they miss off one of the 6 core subjects (evidence) when describing the exam process leads me to question how reliable their materials would be.
Having said that, you don't need a course to study for the NY Bar at all. If you're good at learning from books, you can buy the books second hand, and just study. Really - the books are like law school manuals that we have.
I had considered the New York Bar but reconsidered after the price. The LPC fees were too much anyways and with these fee's on top it would be even more, but a possible option in the future definitely.
Im just wondering what exactly is the cost of the 6 month bar course? And also the exams to get in. I dont think I would do a preparation course, just buy the books and study myself. I have a BA LLB from Ireland and and thinking about this route. One main reason I admit is love of New York!
Hi guys
I'm from the New York Bar Company and I would like to thank you for this blog.
Just in relation to the course materials: they are 25 years in the making and we consider that they are more substantial than any other provider in the UK (and, we would say, in the US).
If any of you guys would like a viewing around our on-line study area, please call 020 7712 6500.
Also, I would like to point out that it is not a good idea to try to "study yourself" for the bar exam. No US students do this, and due to UK students not having a US education then you're really risking paying for the flights and accomodation to the states and then failing.
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