Can UK Solicitors Qualified via SQE Without Law Degree Sit US Bar Exam?

With the introduction of the SQE, the path to becoming a solicitor in England and Wales has become more flexible, allowing university graduates without a law degree to qualify. This new route has raised questions about international recognition, particularly whether SQE-qualified solicitors without a law degree can sit the US bar exam. The answer depends heavily on the jurisdiction in question, as each US state has its own bar admission rules.

Two of the most popular US jurisdictions for foreign-trained lawyers are New York and California. New York has long permitted foreign lawyers to sit its bar exam if their legal education is deemed durationally and substantially equivalent to an ABA-approved JD. However, this generally requires that the candidate holds a formal law degree, such as an LLB, from a common law country. Solicitors who qualify via the SQE without a law degree usually do not meet this threshold. As a result, they are typically required to complete an LLM degree from a ABA-approved US law school, which includes coursework in specific areas such as US constitutional law, legal writing, and professional responsibility, in order to become eligible for the New York Bar.

California takes a more flexible approach. The California Bar Exam is open to foreign-trained lawyers on a case-by-case basis, and it does not always require a formal law degree. Instead, applicants must submit their academic and professional credentials to the California Committee of Bar Examiners, which will assess whether their legal training and experience, such as having qualified as a solicitor through the SQE, are sufficient. While it is possible to be approved without a law degree, you may be required to complete additional legal education, such as earning an LLM from an ABA-approved  US law school or fulfilling specific study requirements.

In practice, this means that a UK solicitor who qualified via the SQE without a law degree may not be immediately eligible to sit the US bar exam in most states. However, the route is still open, especially through the completion of an ABA-approved LLM, which serves both to bridge educational gaps and to meet the formal requirements of US jurisdictions. Those interested in pursuing this path should consult directly with the relevant state bar authority and consider enrolling in an LLM programme that meets the jurisdiction’s bar eligibility requirements.