Rules for lawyers educated or licensed outside the United States differ widely by state. Select a state for the full rules and source links.
| State | Foreign attorneys |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Foreign-educated applicants with an approved law-degree program outside the US and admission in that jurisdiction may qualify for examination |
| Alaska | Yes - foreign law school graduate may receive waiver to practice for Alaska Legal Services Corporation if foreign school meets ABA standards |
| Arizona | Foreign legal consultant certificate available for person admitted and in good standing in foreign country |
| Arkansas | Not in the pulled documents |
| California | Foreign attorneys may practice on a limited basis through special admissions programs, including Foreign Legal Consultants |
| Colorado | Foreign law graduates with LL.B., J.D. or equivalent from school outside U.S. can be exempt from standard degree requirement if they meet one of three eligibility categories involving accredited foreign school, good standing, practice or LL.M. |
| Connecticut | Yes - foreign-educated applicants may qualify to apply for admission with satisfactory proof of legal education; Foreign Legal Consultant status available |
| Delaware | Yes - foreign legal consultants may seek limited permission to practice in Delaware |
| District of Columbia | Yes - court may license foreign-admitted attorneys in good standing as Special Legal Consultants without examination |
| Florida | Yes - Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility |
| Georgia | Foreign Law Consultants may be licensed if member in good standing of recognized foreign legal profession, with 5 of 7 years practice, good moral character, and intent to practice as legal consultant in the State |
| Hawaii | Not in the pulled documents |
| Idaho | Yes - Foreign Legal Consultant may be licensed without bar examination to advise on foreign law |
| Illinois | Yes - foreign legal consultants may be licensed without examination under Rule 712 |
| Indiana | Person admitted in a foreign country may be granted a business counsel license |
| Iowa | Yes, foreign legal consultants may be licensed under Rule 31.18; license superseded upon bar admission |
| Kansas | Not in the pulled documents |
| Kentucky | Not in the pulled documents |
| Louisiana | Yes - graduate of law school not located in the United States or its territories must submit application for equivalency determination in accordance with Section 6 Rule XVII |
| Maine | Yes - foreign law graduates with equivalent education must have been admitted in that country or by US examination and in active practice for at least three years to be eligible to sit for Maine bar |
| Maryland | Waiver available for applicants who completed first legal degree in non-U.S. jurisdiction and completed LLM at ABA-approved U.S. law school |
| Massachusetts | Yes - foreign law school graduates may petition for admission by motion upon obtaining prior determination of educational sufficiency from the BBE |
| Michigan | Yes - foreign-licensed attorneys may be licensed as special legal consultants to advise on law of foreign country of admission if they meet practice and residency requirements |
| Minnesota | Foreign-admitted attorneys may apply for Foreign Legal Consultant License under Rule 11 |
| Mississippi | No - Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility: No |
| Missouri | Yes - foreign lawyer in good standing may receive limited license for in-house counsel |
| Montana | No - Montana does not recognize foreign applicants; all applicants must hold a JD from an ABA-accredited school |
| Nebraska | No |
| Nevada | Foreign-educated applicants may seek functional equivalency certification to apply to take Nevada Bar Exam required for admission |
| New Hampshire | Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility: Yes |
| New Jersey | No - foreign law graduates not eligible, ABA-approved J.D. required |
| New Mexico | Yes - graduates of foreign law schools eligible for admission by examination with admission and practice in another US jurisdiction for four of the preceding six years |
| New York | Yes - admitted in highest court of another country whose jurisprudence is based upon principles of English common law may be admitted without examination |
| North Carolina | Yes - eligible for admission by examination; additional requirement: Admission in another US jurisdiction |
| North Dakota | No - foreign law graduates not eligible |
| Ohio | Yes, foreign-educated applicants eligible with ECE/WES course-by-course evaluation |
| Oklahoma | No |
| Oregon | Yes - foreign law graduates eligible |
| Pennsylvania | Yes - foreign legal consultants may be licensed without examination if qualified; foreign attorneys/graduates may be extended Rule 203 examination or Rule 206 score transfer provisions |
| Rhode Island | Graduates of a law school in a country other than the United States may apply for admission with different filing deadlines |
| South Carolina | No |
| South Dakota | Yes - foreign law school graduate may apply for permission to take bar exam upon good cause if passed bar in another state and member in good standing |
| Tennessee | Foreign-licensed lawyers may register as In-House Counsel / Foreign Legal Consultants when employed in Tennessee |
| Texas | Yes |
| Utah | Yes - foreign law school graduate from English common law country admitted in English common law jurisdiction with 3 of last 5 years practice, 24 semester hours, MPRE and Bar Examination |
| Vermont | Foreign law graduates can satisfy educational requirements for admission by examination and admission by transferred UBE score via equivalency determination |
| Virginia | A J.D. from a foreign law school plus an LL.M. from an ABA-approved law school and a passed U.S. bar exam meets legal education requirement; Foreign Legal Consultant certification exists |
| Washington | Yes - Foreign Law Graduate Eligibility |
| West Virginia | Graduates of a law school outside of the United States may apply subject to a fee for an equivalency evaluation. |
| Wisconsin | Yes, graduates of foreign law schools or attorneys licensed in other countries may sit for the UBE if certain requirements are met |
| Wyoming | Not in the pulled documents |