posted on Sep, 9 2004 @ 08:20 PM
In the last 10 years or so (I'm not sure precisely when) the New York State Bar Association altered their requirements for being able to take the Bar
exam (which, for those who don't know, is a prerequisite to practicing law in New York, as well as other states.)
Originally, for many years, one was allowed to sit the exam without having gone to law school. Now, you must have gone to an ABA accredited law school
and earned a J.D. before you are allowed to take the exam (or, I believe, have spent 6 years in the legal industry.)
Who does this new scheme benefit? The law schools! The requirements for a J.D. degree (the basic law degree) are the credit equivalent of 3 years of
day school or 4 of night school. These rules are pretty much standard in all ABA accredited law schools. And yet, the material covered by the Bar exam
essentially is limited to just the first year of required materials!
In other developed countries, such as the UK, you can become a practicing lawyer having taken just a one year "conversion" course, converting your
undergrad degree, whatever it is, into a law degree, and sitting an exam. And of course, this course is essentially free. Whereas here, in New York
and many other states, you have to spend roughly $80,000 at a minimum for the same privilege.
It's a scam!
-koji K.