Court Rules Network • courtrules.net

Vt. 8

Not legal advice. Verify against official sources before relying on this text in any legal matter.

Rule 8 Graduate of a non-Approved Law School

Rules of Admission to the Bar of the Vermont Supreme Court

Rule Text

(a) Within the United States An Applicant who has graduated from a non-Approved Law School within the United States must satisfy the following requirements no later than the deadline for applying to take the Uniform Bar Examination in Vermont:

(1) demonstrate that the school attended was in the process of seeking accreditation by the American Bar Association during the Applicant’s attendance and has not since been denied accreditation; and

(2) file an official transcript from the non-Approved Law School.

(b) Outside of the United States. An Applicant who has graduated from a foreign, non-Approved Law School (“Foreign Law School”) must establish he or she has:

(1) completed a legal education at a Foreign Law School whose curriculum provided training in a system based on the common law of England and that is otherwise equivalent to graduation from an Approved Law School, as determined by the equivalency determination process; and

(2) been admitted to the bar of a court of general jurisdiction in the country in which the Applicant attended the Foreign Law School and has maintained good standing in that bar or resigned from that bar while still in good standing. The Board may waive this requirement upon the Applicant’s showing of good cause. For the purposes of this rule, “good cause” includes, but is not limited to, consideration of the reason(s) the Applicant is not admitted to the foreign bar, Applicant’s admission and practice in another U.S. or foreign jurisdiction, and Applicant’s legal employment and/or legal study.

(1) Contents of Equivalency Determination Application. An application for equivalency determination must include:

(A) the Applicant’s official transcript from the Foreign Law School;

(B) the Foreign Law School’s course catalogue; and

(2) Deadlines.

(A) To sit for the July Examination, the application for equivalency determination must be submitted no later than the preceding December 1.

(B) To sit for the February Examination, the application for equivalency determination must be submitted no later than the preceding August 1.

(C) An application for equivalency determination may also be submitted together with an application for admission by transferred UBE score.

(3) Written Report. To assist in determining the equivalency of an Applicant’s course of study to the standards of an Approved Law School, the Board may retain an expert to prepare a written report (“Report”), which will assess:

(A) whether the Foreign Law School’s curriculum provides training in a system based on the common law of England;

(B) whether the Foreign Law School is accredited or in the process of obtaining accreditation;

(D) the Applicant’s transcript and the Foreign Law School’s grading system;

(E) whether the Foreign Law School’s graduates are regularly admitted to the practice of law; and

(F) any other factors that may be relevant to determining whether the Applicant has completed a legal education that is equivalent to that of an Approved Law School.

(4) Cure Provision. Applicants who do not meet the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) of this rule, may cure such deficiency by obtaining an LLM degree (Master of Laws) at an Approved Law School in the United States. The Applicant’s course of study must meet all the following requirements:

(A) Applicants must successfully complete the requirements of and be awarded an LLM degree within 24 months of matriculation. Prior to sitting for the Bar Exam, an Applicant must have a completed transcript showing award of a qualified LLM degree.

(B) The LLM program must consist of a minimum of 24 hours of credit. Applicants may not count credits in any type of bar review or preparation course, independent study, directed study, research projects, or externships towards the required 24 hours of credit. The LLM program must take place over at least 2 semesters of at least 13 calendar weeks each, or the equivalent, exclusive of reading periods, examination and breaks.

(i) at least 2 credits in professional responsibility;

(ii) at least 2 credits in a legal research, writing, and analysis course (which may not be satisfied by a research and writing requirement in a substantive course):

(iii) at least 2 credits in a course on American legal studies, the American legal system, or a similar course designed to introduce students to U.S. law: and

(iv) at least six credits in subjects tested on UBE.

(5) Additional Information. Upon completion:

(A) the Report will be provided to the Board and the Applicant; and

(B) the Applicant may provide or the Board may request further information.

(6) Costs. The Applicant is responsible for all costs associated with an equivalency determination. The Applicant must make a deposit to the Board before the Equivalency Determination commences.

(7) Result of Equivalency Determination. The Board will determine whether the Applicant has established that the Foreign Law School is equivalent to an Approved Law School.

(8) Waiver of Report. If the Board, in its discretion, determines it already has sufficient information to recommend approval of a Foreign Law School, it may waive the Report requirement.

(9) Extension. If a final determination on an Equivalency Determination Application has not been made before the administration of the Examination for which the application was submitted, it will remain pending for the subsequent Examination administration.