We’re so confident in our US Bar Prep course that if you don’t pass the bar first time, you can take the course again for free.*
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US Bar
US Bar Preparation Course Online
Developed in partnership with Themis, one of the largest US Bar exam preparation providers, this career-enhancing course will prepare you to pass the New York or California Bar Exam so you can qualify as an attorney for the New York or California Bar. This course has been designed especially for non-US law graduates and lawyers by building upon your existing knowledge and developing your legal analysis and communication skills.
Themis’ unique expertise, combined with our experience as the UK’s longest-established specialist provider of legal education, will provide you with a strong understanding of US state law and the opportunity to work across borders.
Key Facts
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements for this course, however, there are eligibility requirements to sit the Bar Exam. Please ensure you are eligible to sit the exam before booking the course.
Locations
Online
Is this course right for you?
To find out if you are eligible to sit this exam, visit our Qualifying as an attorney page.
Course Details
US Bar Preparation Course
Our US Bar Preparation Course has been designed to prepare you for either the New York or California Bar Exam. You’ll cover a range of core topics and have the choice to specialise in either state’s legislation, depending on eligibility.
The course has been developed in partnership with Themis, one of the largest US Bar exam preparation providers. Find out more about the course and our partnership with Themis by watching the video below.
Why choose to study the US Bar Preparation Course?
- You’ll be able to enhance your employability by gaining an international qualification and developing a wider scope of knowledge to benefit your professional development.
- Receive unparalleled student support with our bespoke workshops, created to help bridge the gap between the legislation of the country you are qualified in and US law. You’ll also be assigned a licensed attorney who will grade your essays and provide you with detailed feedback as well as have regular meetings with our expert lecturers.
- You can feel confident in passing the Bar, as we’ll provide you with access to an online portal containing lectures, past papers, and additional resources.
- Enjoy flexibility - We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. That’s why our US Bar Preparation Course is delivered part-time online to provide you with the greatest flexibility you need to succeed in your studies.
- Our online programmes will save you the time and money on commuting to and from campus and allow you to study anywhere, across devices, however you can be reassured that the course won’t be compromised on quality or be less demanding than our on campus courses.
- No visas are required to study the course, making it easier than ever to study for the US Bar.
- We offer the most affordable US Bar Preparation Course in the UK for non-US graduates and lawyers.
Please note: Before booking onto this course, please ensure that you are eligible to sit the US Bar Exam. View the full eligibility requirements.
Course Structure
Modules
All students will be required to study the core modules. You will have the option to specialise and study for either the New York or California Bar.
Please note: to sit the California Bar Exam, you must be a qualified lawyer from a common or civil law country. To sit the New York Bar Exam, you must have completed a three-year, on-campus LLB from a common-law country (some exclusions apply). See our Qualifying as an attorney page for more details.
Core modules:
- Tort (Torts)
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law
- Real Property (Land)
- Civil Procedure
- Evidence
- Constitutional Law
New York modules:
- Agency and Partnership
- Corporations
- Conflict of Laws
- Family Law
- Trusts and Secured Transactions
California modules:
- Business Associations
- Community Property
- Professional Responsibility
- Remedies
- Trusts and Succession
Course Start Dates
September 2024 – November 2024 Part-time: Online
This course prepares you for the July 2025 Bar Exam and runs over a period of nine months, starting on Monday 2 September 2024. It takes around 12-15 hours of study per week, but it is completely flexible, so you can adapt your studies around your personal and professional commitments and study at your own pace. The enrolment deadline for this course is Friday 29 November 2024, but please note that the later you start the course, the higher the weekly study hours you will need to devote to catch up.
May 2025 – July 2025 Part-time: Online
This course prepares you for the February 2026 Bar Exam and runs over a period of nine months, starting on Thursday 15 May 2025. It takes around 12-15 hours of study per week, but it is completely flexible, so you can adapt your studies around your personal and professional commitments and study at your own pace. The enrolment deadline for this course is Thursday 31 July 2025, but please note that the later you start the course, the higher the weekly study hours you will need to devote to catch up.
open daysUpcoming Dates
Jan 6th
Online Campus Q&A Drop-in (Virtual Event)
Other
13:00 - 14:00
Online
Jan 9th
Legal Personal Statement Workshop: Enhancing your UCAS application (Virtual Event)
Undergraduate
16:00 - 17:00
Online
Jan 14th
Effective Leaders in Higher Education: Multi-Dimensional Approaches (Virtual Event)
Postgraduate
17:00 - 18:00
Online
next event
15d 7h 42m
Course Information
The exams for the California and New York Bars are always on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of February and March. We allow students to start the course between 7 and 10 months before the exam so there is a 3-month window in which you can apply and start studying our US Bar Preparation Course. Please note that the later you start the course, the higher the weekly study hours you will need to devote to catch up.
There is no formal assessment for this course, and it does not lead to an academic award.
The Bar Exam will be held externally by the California Bar and the New York State Board of Law Examiners (NYSBOLE) in conjunction with the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE).
New from February 2025
The Supreme Court of California has now approved that the California Bar Exam can be taking remotely, so you'll no longer be required to travel to California to sit the exams.
For details on how to register your eligibility to sit the exam, book, receive assessment results and request any reasonable adjustments, please visit the NYSBOLE or California Bar website:
There are three assessments taken over two consecutive days. The exam formats vary slightly, depending on if you wish to take the New York or California Bar exam, but follows the same structure:
Day 1:
- Multistate Essay Exam - consisting of a number of questions to test your ability to communicate effectively in writing.
- Multistate Performance Test - consisting of tasks to test fundamental skills required as an attorney.
Day 2:
- Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) – a multiple choice exam covering Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law & Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, and Torts.
For further information about your eligibility to sit the exam, please see our Qualifying as an attorney page.
Employability We Set You Up For Success
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Fees and Booking
You can apply for this course directly with the University.
2024/25 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2024)
Online: £4,550
2025/26 Course Fee (for courses starting on or after 1 July 2025)
Online: £4,800
If you’re a ULaw alumnus, you may be eligible to receive our £250 US Bar Preparation Course Discount.
We have students from over 120 different countries throughout our campuses, with a dedicated team to help international students.
