Published Apr 11, 2009
pagto316
9 Posts
I'm a Registered Nurse here in the Philippines and I want to work in the United States as a Nurse Attorney someday, and, I'm now going to take the NCLEX-RN exam soon so that I can have my United States registered Nurse License. And this year I'm going also to a Law school here in the Philippines to have a law degree.
Since Registered Nurses here in the Philippines can already work as a nurse there in the United States, my question is, if I'm going to be a graduate of Law here in our country, the Philippines, can I also apply for a bar exam in USA?
What would be the requirements? Is there any discrimination that Filipinos can not be accepted as Nurse Attorneys because of the fact that I had my Law degree in our country and not in USA?
Or, can I also work there as a Legal Nurse Consultant?
Please help me with these queries I have. God bless you all. Hail to all NURSES of the world!
redranger
363 Posts
No You can't apply for the Bar Exam in USA,with Law Degree from PI.
I don't know the detail, But I think years of schooling in USA would be required first.
You can probably find your answer on the net regarding requirements for Foreign Trained lawyers trying to pratice in USA.
Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN
2,722 Posts
Yeah, each state board has its own requirements for eligibility to take its bar exam.
Do a search for the state in which you intend to practice.
For LNC work, I'd imagine significant American experience in nursing would be most appropriate.
Good luck!
Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN
3,181 Posts
You must pass the NCLEX and the Bar exam in the state you wish to practice.
Internationally Trained Nurses do not have a hire rate of passing NCLEX. And only 70% of lawyers pass the bar the first time.
If you pass both and have a green card you are all set to practice.
Do you have a green card? There is a long wait for one.
Have you passed the NCLEX and the Bar?
If you have all of the above you should have no problems and be sought after since there are not many Nurse Lawyers.
Per the OP :
"And this year I'm going also to a Law school here in the Philippines to have a law degree."
Thank you for the replies guys.. I appreciate it...
I'm really looking forward to be a nurse attorney there in the United States someday, or a Legal Nurse Consultant...
I will try my best to pass the NCLEX-RN and Bar exams in thUnited Statese . My cousins are already Registered Nurses and a Lawyer there in the United States and that I hope and looking forward that I can be one like them someday.
God bless guys! Happy Easter!
Great best of luck, it will be a very long haul. Get plenty of experience as a nurse in the USA since they make the best Nurse Attorneys. You are aware of retrogression.
er_desertrn
1 Post
hello..I am a nurse attorney. I have a BSN degree from the Philippines, and my law education from the Philippines too. I have been working as an ER/TRAUMA nurse here, got my CEN (Certified ER Nurse) Certificate too.
If you go to http://www.calbar.ca.gov, it will give you a list of requirements for foreign lawyers to take the Bar Exams in California. Basically, if a country's laws is based on the common law, the lawyers admitted to that country's jurisdiction is allowed to take the Bar Exams in Ca. It is different for each states, example, in North Carolina (where I relocated from), foreign lawyers can take their bar exams provided they take a master's degree course, likewise, New York requires a little bit more of education/certification (but not much).
California, however requires the foreign lawyer to get a Certification of Good Standing from their highest court (mainly our Supreme Court) which is necessary to register for admission to take the bar exam. You have to register first (to determine your eligibility) to take the bar. Once you have been determined that you are eligible, you can then apply to take the CA Bar Exams which is held twice a year, once in Feb and the other in July.
I only did self-review since I am working as an Er nurse from two hospitals. There are so many available Bar Reviews like Barbri and Pmbr, some online, and some tutorials too online, however, the cost is kinda steep. I took the Ca July Bar Exams in Anaheim in 2008 and met some Filipino lawyers who are also taking the bar and is here thru a tourist visa only, basically for the purpose of taking the Ca Bar.
After registration in the Ca Bar Admission Office, you have to complete a 3 step process. (1) Pass the Ca Bar Exam (which is a 3-day test starting from 9 am to 5 pm) usually on the last days of Feb/July; (2) Pass the Ethics test which requires another application to test, with the passing score of 86%; (3) Apply for a Determination of Good Moral Character which takes about 6 to 8 mos, where you have to justify what you have been doing since you were 18 yrs old; After all these 3 steps are done, the Bar Admissions Office will send you a card to take your Oath and pay around S450 to S500 dollars as annual membership dues. The cost to take one bar exam for foreign lawyers is around S740 to 780 dollars.
Hope this answers your question.
lynnn/er_desertrn
Itzallgood
145 Posts
hello..I am a nurse attorney. I have a BSN degree from the Philippines, and my law education from the Philippines too. I have been working as an ER/TRAUMA nurse here, got my CEN (Certified ER Nurse) Certificate too.If you go to www.calbar.ca.gov, it will give you a list of requirements for foreign lawyers to take the Bar Exams in California. Basically, if a country's laws is based on the common law, the lawyers admitted to that country's jurisdiction is allowed to take the Bar Exams in Ca. It is different for each states, example, in North Carolina (where I relocated from), foreign lawyers can take their bar exams provided they take a master's degree course, likewise, New York requires a little bit more of education/certification (but not much). California, however requires the foreign lawyer to get a Certification of Good Standing from their highest court (mainly our Supreme Court) which is necessary to register for admission to take the bar exam. You have to register first (to determine your eligibility) to take the bar. Once you have been determined that you are eligible, you can then apply to take the CA Bar Exams which is held twice a year, once in Feb and the other in July.I only did self-review since I am working as an Er nurse from two hospitals. There are so many available Bar Reviews like Barbri and Pmbr, some online, and some tutorials too online, however, the cost is kinda steep. I took the Ca July Bar Exams in Anaheim in 2008 and met some Filipino lawyers who are also taking the bar and is here thru a tourist visa only, basically for the purpose of taking the Ca Bar.After registration in the Ca Bar Admission Office, you have to complete a 3 step process. (1) Pass the Ca Bar Exam (which is a 3-day test starting from 9 am to 5 pm) usually on the last days of Feb/July; (2) Pass the Ethics test which requires another application to test, with the passing score of 86%; (3) Apply for a Determination of Good Moral Character which takes about 6 to 8 mos, where you have to justify what you have been doing since you were 18 yrs old; After all these 3 steps are done, the Bar Admissions Office will send you a card to take your Oath and pay around S450 to S500 dollars as annual membership dues. The cost to take one bar exam for foreign lawyers is around S740 to 780 dollars.Hope this answers your question.lynnn/er_desertrn
If you go to www.calbar.ca.gov, it will give you a list of requirements for foreign lawyers to take the Bar Exams in California. Basically, if a country's laws is based on the common law, the lawyers admitted to that country's jurisdiction is allowed to take the Bar Exams in Ca. It is different for each states, example, in North Carolina (where I relocated from), foreign lawyers can take their bar exams provided they take a master's degree course, likewise, New York requires a little bit more of education/certification (but not much).
I salute you in your excellent post and in your educational background
Very impressive:up:
wow! thank you for the reply... congratulations you are a nurse attorney already, that is a very big success!
by the way, Im taking my NCLEX-RN exam this july and this june is my first month in Law at the Ateneo de davao University Law School. I'm hoping that I can pass first the NCLEX in Manila for the state of california before all of my plans will continue, I only did self review for my NCLEX and I'm not that too confident but I know that I can pass it with the help of God.
Hey, my cousin who is a lawyer in NY which is a graduate of Ateneo De Davao told me that those who are foreign law graduates who want to take the bar in USA can only take in NY given the fact that if from Philippines UP and Ateneo graduates are only allowed. now I've discovered from you that it is possible to take the Bar in california and be a Nurse Attorney there. and that is a wow!
i'm planning to endorse my California result to NY if I can pass the NCLEX cause that's what my cousin told me, but I'm not sure that I will like NY, I would like to work in California.
can you give me advise?
i'm just planning for my future. i really appreciate your reply. thank you!
The California board of Nursing won't issue a license unless you have a SSN. Other states may offer a license, which can be transfered to any other state which you qualify.
thanks. but what's an SSN?
how will they issue my license because I'm an International Nurse?