You may be eligible to take U.S. bar exams or the Maryland bar exam after completing our LLM program, depending on the courses that you take. Bar admission requirements vary among jurisdictions. For more information about eligibility to take a bar examination and bar admission requirements in U.S. jurisdictions, see the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, published by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, as well as the website of the bar authorities for any state in which you are interested in taking the bar. International students wishing to be eligible to take a U.S. bar exam may need to take certain courses. The LLM academic advisor will guide you appropriately, and counsel you as you navigate the application process. More information about the Maryland Bar Exam below:
What is the process for applying to sit for the Maryland bar exam?
1. Review the process for requesting a Waiver for Graduates of Non-ABA Law Schools found at mdcourts.gov/ble/generalbarexam.html.
2. You must complete a minimum of 26 credit hours in Maryland bar-tested courses in your LLM program at Maryland Carey Law in order to qualify for the waiver and be eligible to sit for the bar exam. Bar-tested subjects on the Maryland bar include Business Associations, Commercial Transactions, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Maryland Civil Procedure, Professional Conduct, Property, and Torts.
3. If you qualify, request the following from the law school’s Office of Registration and Enrollment (ORE) in Suite 280.
I. Certification letter as required by the rule;
II. Current law school transcript showing LLM courses completed and/or in progress;
III. Course descriptions of the LLM courses; and
IV. Copy of your LSAC/admissions file
You will be contacted by ORE when the items listed above are ready for you to pick up. It is your responsibility to send these items to the State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE), along with the items in 4, below.
1. You, the applicant, will also need to provide the following to the State Board of Law Examiners:
I. Certificate of good standing from the foreign jurisdiction(s) where you are admitted to practice law
II. A waiver request letter, signed by you, and containing a detailed description of:
a. Your pre-legal education achieved, indicating the name and location of each college or university attended, the date of graduation (if any), and the degree(s) obtained (if any);
b. Your legal education achieved, indicating the name and location of each law school(s) attended and the date of the law school graduation; and
c. Your experience in the practice of law
d. A valid mailing address to which the State Board of Law Examiners can respond
After you have completed the waiver request letter (4.b., above) and compiled the supporting documentation (3.a., b., c., d. and 4.a.), you will need to mail or deliver the original documents to the State Board of Law Examiners (SBLE) by the waiver deadlines (preceding April 20 for a July exam and preceding November 20 for a February exam).
After the SBLE reviews your waiver request and supporting documents, the SBLE will mail a determination letter to the address you provide. Your waiver request letter must include a return address if you wish to receive a response.
If you are permitted to sit for the Maryland bar exam, you will be contacted by a member of the Character and Fitness Committee regarding the Character and Fitness process, which is a requirement for admission in the State of Maryland. This contact often occurs after the exam dates.