In the United States, bar admission is regulated by each of the fifty states, and each state has complete discretion in the process. Some states permit foreign lawyers with a LL.M. degree to take the bar exam and be admitted to practice. New York is a commonly selected jurisdiction which does permit foreign applications. Each year a group of UM LL.M. graduates sit for the New York Bar Exam (and pass it!). Other states may be an option depending on your long-term career goals. For a state by state analysis, please visit Guide to Bar Admissions in the Fifty States.
Florida does not allow foreign applicants to sit for the bar exam with only an LL.M. degree. Only graduates of a three-year ABA approved American J.D. program are eligible for Bar Admission. Some foreign lawyers do get certified under a special Foreign Legal Consultancy (FLC) rule, which only allows them to counsel clients on the laws of their country of origin (and prior bar admission.) The FLC rule does not seem to lead to broad job opportunities in Florida. So, if you long-term goal is to practice law in Florida, you should consider the J.D. program. If you are interested in starting with the LL.M. program and transfering to the J.D. program, you should seek more information from the Office of International and Foreign Programs.
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