Canonical HTML: https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-studying-law-abroad
Markdown URL: https://www.studyu.org/en/md/blog-studying-law-abroad.md
Language: en
Meta title: Studying Law Abroad: Degrees and Bar Admission | StudyU
Meta description: Studying law abroad: LLB, JD and LL.M., qualifying to practise in England, the US, Germany and Russia, 2026/27 fees and which degree to choose.
Last modified: 2026-09-30

# Studying Law Abroad: Degrees, Qualifying to Practise and Costs

- [Home](https://www.studyu.org/en/)

- [Blog](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog)

A law degree from abroad gives you knowledge of that country's law, but on its own it does not make you a practising lawyer there or in Russia. The right to practise comes through a separate process: in England and Wales, the SQE exams and two years of qualifying work experience; in New York, the bar exam, which graduates from civil-law countries can sit after a US LL.M. of at least 24 credits; in Germany, two state examinations in German. In Russia, advocate status requires a law degree from an accredited programme, two years of legal experience and a qualification exam — and a foreign degree must first be recognised. So the choice of country starts with where, and as what, you intend to work.

Below: how law degrees differ between legal systems, how to qualify in the UK, the US, Germany and Russia, what study costs in 2026/27, and when an LL.M. makes more sense than a bachelor's.

| In brief | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| Bachelor's in law | LLB: 3 years in England and Wales; in Turkey, 4 years, mostly in Turkish |
| United States | law is a graduate subject: a JD at law school after a bachelor's |
| England and Wales | solicitor: a degree in any subject, SQE1 and SQE2, two years' qualifying work experience |
| New York for a Russian-trained lawyer | an LL.M. at an ABA-approved school (at least 24 in-person credits) and an advance evaluation of eligibility |
| Example fee, 2026/27 | LLB at Goldsmiths: $29,140 (£22,000) a year |
| Advocate in Russia | an accredited law degree or a recognised foreign one, 2 years' experience, an exam |

The Faculty of Law building at the University of Windsor, Canada. Photo: Copystar / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ron_W._Ianni_Faculty_of_Law_Building,_University_of_Windsor,_from_University_Avenue_01.jpg), [CC0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en).

## Types of law degree {#section-1}

Degree titles reflect different training systems. Four matter most.

| Degree | Where you find it | Who it suits |
| --- | --- | --- |
| LLB (Bachelor of Laws) | UK, Ireland, other common-law countries; English-taught programmes in Europe | school leavers |
| JD (Juris Doctor) | US, Canada | holders of a bachelor's in any subject; usually three years |
| LL.M. (Master of Laws) | almost everywhere | law graduates seeking specialisation or, in some US states, bar-exam eligibility |
| State examination (Staatsexamen) | Germany | those studying German law in German to work in Germany |

The legal system matters too. England, the US, Canada and Australia follow the common law, where case law carries great weight. Russia, Germany, France and the Netherlands follow the civil-law tradition, built on codes. A Russian lawyer moving into a common-law system is learning a new way of reasoning, not just new vocabulary.

## Qualifying to practise: England and Wales, the US, Germany and Russia {#section-2}

| Country | First stage | What qualification requires | Who decides |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| England and Wales (solicitor) | a bachelor's in any subject or a level 6 equivalent | SQE1 and SQE2, two years' qualifying work experience, character and suitability checks | Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) |
| United States, New York | JD from an ABA-approved school; foreign lawyers — their degree plus an LL.M. | the bar exam; foreign-educated applicants request an advance evaluation | New York State Board of Law Examiners |
| Germany (Rechtsanwalt) | law at a German university with the first examination | the preparatory service and the second state examination | state justice authorities and the bar chamber |
| Russia (advocate) | a law degree from an accredited programme or a recognised foreign degree | 2 years' legal experience or a traineeship, the qualification exam | the qualification commission of the regional bar |

England and Wales. Since the move to the SQE, a law degree is no longer compulsory: the regulator accepts a degree in any subject. An LLB is still useful, as it builds a foundation in English law and often includes SQE preparation. Goldsmiths' LLB, for example, is a qualifying law degree recognised by the regulators of solicitors and barristers.

The route to becoming a barrister, who argues cases in court, is different. The Bar Standards Board divides training into three components: academic (a law degree, or a conversion course for graduates of other subjects), vocational (the Bar course) and pupillage, a period of work-based learning under an experienced barrister. You must join one of the Inns of Court before starting vocational training, and the regulator openly warns that there are far more candidates than pupillage places.

International students also face a visa question. A Graduate visa applied for from 1 January 2027 lasts 18 months, while solicitors' qualifying work experience is two years full-time, so you will need another basis to stay for the rest, which is worth discussing early with a prospective employer.

United States. There is no undergraduate law degree: four years of a bachelor's in any subject come first, then three years of JD. For foreign-trained lawyers, each state sets its own rules. In New York, the foreign degree must be in law, from a recognised institution and comparable in duration to a US programme. Where the home country is not a common-law jurisdiction — as with Russia — the gap is "cured" with a US LL.M. of at least 24 semester credits, all taken in the classroom and completed within 24 months. Eligibility must be evaluated in advance: under this route, documents for a July exam are due by 1 October of the previous year, and for a February exam by 1 May of the previous year.

Canada. As in the US, law is studied after a first degree, and internationally trained lawyers are first assessed by the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada. The NCA then specifies the exams or courses to complete before you apply to a provincial law society.

Germany. To practise as a Rechtsanwalt, you must qualify for judicial office: complete a law degree with the first examination, the preparatory service and the second state examination — all in German and under German law. For foreigners without this path, English-taught LL.M. programmes suit corporate careers rather than the bar.

Russia. The Law on Advocacy requires a law degree from a state-accredited programme, two years' legal experience (or a traineeship with an advocates' office) and a pass in the qualification exam. A foreign degree carries the same rights as a Russian one after recognition under Article 107 of the Law on Education. Separately, advocates of foreign states may advise in Russia on the law of their own country once entered in a special register kept by the Ministry of Justice.

## Bachelor's or LL.M.? {#section-3}

A bachelor's abroad makes sense if you want to work in the country of study or in international practice that needs that jurisdiction. Applicants with an 11-year school certificate usually enter the UK through a preparatory year; see our guide to the [UK foundation year](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk).

An LL.M. after a Russian law degree is the more common and shorter route. One year gives you a specialisation — international arbitration, corporate, tax or technology law — and exposure to another legal system, and in New York it can also open the bar exam. Your Russian degree keeps its value at home.

Turkey suits those ready for the Turkish language and Turkish law: the bachelor's lasts four years and is taught mostly in Turkish. Based on our research, private-university fees for 2026/27 range from $5,000 to $25,000 a year; see [law in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-law).

## What studying law costs {#section-4}

| Option | Fee | Worth knowing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Goldsmiths, LLB Law, 2026/27 | $29,140 (£22,000) a year | three years, qualifying law degree, IELTS 6.5 |
| Private universities in Turkey, law bachelor's, 2026/27 | $5,000–25,000 a year, based on our research | four years, mostly in Turkish |
| Public universities in Germany | no tuition in most states | teaching and exams in German |
| LSE, LLM, London, 2026/27 entry | $52,860 (£39,900) for the one-year programme, overseas students | a master's for law graduates; rolling admissions while places remain |
| US LL.M. | set by each school, listed on the programme page | for New York, the programme must meet Rule 520.6 |

Beyond tuition, budget for qualification: SQE preparation in England, bar-exam preparation in the US, and the time for one or two years of work experience or preparatory service.

## What admissions look at {#section-5}

- English. Law demands more than average: Goldsmiths' LLB requires IELTS 6.5, with 6.5 in writing and at least 6.0 in each component. LL.M. thresholds vary by school.
- School certificate. For the UK, an 11-year certificate usually means a preparatory year first; US colleges accept it, but the JD comes four years later.
- Writing. Personal statements and writing samples weigh more for law than for many subjects, because selectors look at reasoning and argument.
- For the JD, the LSAT or an accepted alternative under the school's rules; for the LL.M., a law degree and references.
- Timing. The main UCAS date for 2027/28 entry is 13 January 2027. The full plan is in our guide to [applying to UK universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-uk-universities).

## Common mistakes {#section-6}

- Confusing a degree with the right to practise. An LLB or JD is education; becoming an advocate or solicitor is a separate regulatory process.
- Choosing a country without a work plan. English law helps in international arbitration and transactions, German law in Germany, Turkish law in Turkey.
- Going to Germany for free law study without German. Both the degree and the two state exams are in German.
- Enrolling on a US LL.M. for the New York bar without checking the programme. It must meet Rule 520.6: at least 24 in-class credits within 24 months, no distance learning and limits on coursework.
- Postponing recognition in Russia. Without it, a foreign degree does not make you eligible for advocate status.
- Underestimating language. Legal English means heavy reading and writing loads, and a score just at the threshold does not protect you from a hard first term.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can I work as a lawyer in Russia with a foreign degree?

You can advise and work in-house if your employer accepts your degree. Advocate status requires a degree recognised in Russia, two years of legal experience and an exam at the regional bar. Foreign education is recognised under Article 107 of the Law on Education.

### Which is better value: a law bachelor's abroad or an LL.M. after a Russian law degree?

If you want to work in the country of study, you need its bachelor's or JD. If your goal is international practice building on Russian law, an LL.M. after your Russian degree is quicker and cheaper: one year instead of three or four.

### Can a Russian-trained lawyer become an attorney in the US?

In some states, yes. In New York, a foreign-educated lawyer can sit the bar exam if the degree meets Rule 520.6. Lawyers from civil-law countries must additionally complete an LL.M. of at least 24 credits at an ABA-approved law school.

### Do I need a law degree to become a solicitor in England?

No. Under the SQE, a bachelor's in any subject or an equivalent level 6 qualification is accepted. You then need to pass SQE1 and SQE2, complete two years of qualifying work experience and meet the SRA's character and suitability requirements.

### How much does it cost to study law in the UK?

At Goldsmiths, the LLB for international students starting in 2026/27 costs $29,140 (£22,000) a year over three years. Add living costs, a preparatory year for applicants from 11-year school systems and, if you plan to become a solicitor, SQE preparation.

### Can I study law in Germany in English?

A full law degree leading to the state examinations is taught in German. English-taught options in Germany are mostly LL.M. programmes in international or European law, which suit corporate careers but do not lead to admission to the bar.

## Sources {#section-8}

- [SRA: qualifying as a solicitor through the SQE](https://www.sra.org.uk/become-solicitor/sqe/)
- [Bar Standards Board: becoming a barrister](https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/becoming-a-barrister.html)
- [GOV.UK: Graduate visa — length of stay](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa)
- [LSE: LLM — 2026/27 fees](https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/graduate/llm)
- [National Committee on Accreditation (NCA), Canada](https://nca.legal/)
- [Goldsmiths: LLB Law — 2026/27 fee, IELTS, qualifying law degree status](https://www.gold.ac.uk/ug/llb-law/)
- [New York State Board of Law Examiners: foreign legal education, Rule 520.6](https://www.nybarexam.org/Foreign/ForeignLegalEducation.htm)
- [Germany: German Judiciary Act (DRiG), section 5](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/drig/__5.html)
- [Germany: Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO), section 4](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/brao/__4.html)
- [Russian Law on Advocacy, Article 9](https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_36945/78554e27c2bc62cb198661b252ae7eb77fbcd1c8/)
- [Russian Law on Advocacy, Article 2: foreign advocates](https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_36945/0c312832dba108270ca97b189aa65480e15a93f9/)
- [Russian Law on Education, Article 107](https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_140174/8765fc4bcab2fa76d72a00ba54d39f74466167b9/)
- [UCAS: key application dates, 2027 intake](https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/dates-and-deadlines-for-uni-applications)
- Turkish university fees come from our guide to [law in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-law).

Pounds were converted at the ECB cross rate for 29.09.2026 (£1 ≈ $1.3247, with €1 = $1.1355), and results rounded to the nearest $10.

Comparing countries against your goal, checking whether a programme leads to the right to practise, and preparing documents and applications are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, the consulate on the visa, and the regulator or bar on admission to the profession.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Foundation Year in the UK: Types, Entry Requirements, Costs and Progression](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-foundation-year-in-the-uk)
- [Law in Turkey](https://www.studyu.org/en/program-law)
- [Applying to UK Universities for 2027: A Step-by-Step Plan for International Students](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-uk-universities)
- [Bachelor's Degree in the UK: Structure, Full Cost and How to Get In for 2027](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-the-uk)

Updated: September 2026