Translating the U.S. LLM Experience: The Need for a Comprehensive Examination

By Carole Silver & Mayer Freed [*]

The process of globalization has generated increasing interest in United States law.  One consequence of this interest is the development of a new market for U.S. legal education:  foreign nationals, both those who have previously studied law and those who are licensed to practice law in their home countries.  These students frequently seek to gain fluency in U.S. law by enrolling in U.S. law school LLM programs.  This essay will discuss the mismatch between the career interests of LLM graduates and the state bar licensing systems in which they participate, and will propose a unique comprehensive examination tailored to meet the needs of foreign LLMs.