15 March 2010: College of Law Strengthens Global Reach with New York Bar and International Law School Partnerships
The College of Law has become the first and only legal education provider in the UK to offer direct access to the New York Bar Exam for non-law graduates.
In addition the College is today announcing partnerships with two global law schools: IE Law School in Madrid and Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago.
From September full-time Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) students at the College, who go on to complete its Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) and thereby receive the College’s LL.B degree, will be eligible to sit for the New York Bar Exam following an additional 22-week study programme.
This route, which is exclusive to the College, allows GDL students that do not secure one of the diminishing number of training contracts or pupillages in England and Wales to follow an alternative route to qualification as a lawyer via the New York Bar.
Previously UK non-law graduates would need first to qualify as a lawyer in the UK and then complete an LL.M Masters degree in the US before being able to sit the New York Bar Exam.
This new route for College of Law students is the result of successful discussions with the New York State Court of Appeals and the New York State Board of Law Examiners. These took into account the content and quality of the College’s GDL, LPC and BPTC programmes; the College’s decision to award its LL.B only on successful completion of these programmes; and the College’s unique role and mission in this country’s legal education.
Nigel Savage, Chief Executive of The College of Law, said: “This initiative raises us well above our competitors and is a vindication of our commitment to maintaining quality and standards. The process was very rigorous, but very fair. The reality is that if students want to work on the global stage they have to qualify either as an English lawyer or at the New York Bar.
“This programme allows the non-law graduate to have that choice. It means that if they cannot secure one of the ever decreasing training contract places or pupillages they still have the option to take the New York Bar Exam. The programme will also attract the very best overseas students to the College thus helping to sustain London as a legal services and legal education hub.”
The additional 22-week study programme, following completion of the GDL and then either the LPC or BPTC, includes electives in US business and securities law to enable College GDL students to be better equipped as “global lawyers” and better prepared for the New York Bar Exam.
Students can take these additional electives in the UK or, subject to the outcome of current negotiations, at a top ten US law school. Those who successfully complete the extended course will be awarded a US-style College of Law Juris Doctor (JD) professional degree in law, making this the first JD programme in the country.
The College was advised by Steven Krane, New York partner of US international law firm Proskauer, who was recently named “Lawyer of the Year” by Lawyers USA.
He said: “Quite apart from being delighted at the outcome of these discussions from a client perspective, as a former President of the New York State Bar Association and Chair of the NYSBA International Section, I warmly welcome this development. This represents a unique accolade for the College and I hope it will foster closer ties between the New York Bar and innovative law schools such as the College.”
The College of Law has also formed partnerships with two global law schools: IE Law School in Madrid and Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago.
The IE Law School is one of the leading Spanish law schools with 35 years of experience of operating international programmes in Business Law, Business Administration and in the practice of law in a global context. The College is currently working with IE to develop programmes that straddle the civil/common law divide and that seek to enhance the broader management skills that lawyers need.
Jose M. de Areilza, Dean of IE Law School, said: “Our societies demand lawyers who can lead their organisations and add value to their global clients. This partnership will allow us to develop global degrees and is an important step in that direction."
Northwestern is assisting the College in developing and ultimately delivering the additional electives that are required to enable students to sit the New York Bar Exam. Northwestern Law prepares its graduates to excel in a rapidly changing world through its unique emphasis on providing graduates with the foundational competencies necessary to succeed in today’s global arena. Northwestern Law’s faculty, with more PhD-holders than any other law school, is the most highly credentialed and interdisciplinary among US law schools. The school is consistently ranked among the top ten of the 200 American Bar Association- accredited US law schools. Between them The College of Law and Northwestern have over 280 years of experience in providing leadership in legal education.
David E. Van Zandt, Dean of Northwestern Law said: “We are pleased to partner with The College of Law on this important initiative, which aligns with Northwestern Law’s emphasis on providing today’s law graduates with the skills they need to be able to work cross-culturally and cross-jurisdictionally. This strategic partnership with a premier provider of legal education and training in the UK and its top law firms will further strengthen our global presence.”
Nigel Savage said: “In legal education as well as in personal life one is judged by the company you keep. All three of us share a common vision of legal education in a global context and a commitment to providing leadership in the sector and preparing our students for leadership roles. The relationship with IE will provide a direct route into Europe and Latin America and Northwestern will enable us to forge closer links with the US in much the same way as English law firms are doing. Both IE and Northwestern also have direct links with world class fully-accredited business schools.”
The College of Law will also be developing “best friend” relationships with other global law schools that share its vision of being world class professional law schools as a major part of its future strategy.
For more information about The College of Law's Juris Doctor degree please email us at jd@lawcol.co.uk
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