International Liaison Office

Below please find some of the most frequently asked questions received by the International Liaison Office from lawyers outside the United States.

1. What do I have to do to be able to practice in the United States?
Admission to the bar in the United States is at the state level. While many states require a law degree from a US ABA-accredited law school, there are variations in requirements.

For a more complete breakdown of what is required by individual states, please refer to Chart 10, Foreign Law School Graduates, of the “Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements 2007”,a publication of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). This publication also contains a directory of State Bar Admissions Administrators.

This publication is out of print but it can be viewed online or downloaded for free here.

2. If I'm admitted to practice outside the US, can I still become an ABA member?
Lawyers admitted to and in good standing with the bar in countries other than the United States may become international associates of the ABA. To enroll, click on (http://www.abanet.org/join/asc_enroll.cfm), complete the form and submit it, along with payment to the ABA Service center (http://www.abanet.org/join/). The Service Center can provide further details. International associates are also eligible to apply for section, division and forum membership.

3. I want to attend the next ABA Annual Meeting. How do I go about registering.
You can find information about the ABA's Annual Meeting and Midyear meeting at (http://www.abanet.org/mtd/).

4. Where will the upcoming ABA Annual Meetings be held?
The ABA will hold its next seven annual meetings in the following cities;

2007	San Francisco, California August 9-14
2008	New York, New York August 7-12
2009	Chicago, Illinois July 30-August 4
2010	San Francisco, California August 5-10
2011	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2012	Chicago, Illinois August 2-7
2013	San Francisco, California August 8-14
2014	Boston, Massachusetts August 7-12
2015	Chicago, Illinois July 30-August 4

5. I will be traveling to the United States next June and want to know if there are any other ABA meetings I could attend?
The American Bar Association conducts hundreds of continuing legal education seminars and programs throughout the year. If you have a specific area of professional expertise, please refer to the corresponding ABA section, division, or forum committee for details on the meetings they are holding. They are listed under Member Groups on the ABA's home page at (http://www.abanet.org/home.cfm). You may contact the ABA's CLE Info Center for a listing of ABA-sponsored meetings and seminars.

6. A client has a legal matter in the state of Massachusetts. Can you provide a lawyer referral?
Referrals are provided by state and local bars in the United States. Please contact the ABA Legal Services Division for a directory of lawyer referral services and/or the Bar Services Division for a listing of state and local bars.

7. If I have a legal problem involving a U.S. lawyer, whom do I call?
The ABA's role in lawyer discipline is to provide general recommendations and guidelines to state disciplinary authorities and courts for improvements of the disciplinary process. As a national, voluntary legal association, the ABA does not address specific complaints nor does it have the authority to investigate or intervene in matters involving individual lawyers. Ultimate authority over lawyer discipline in each state lies with the supreme court of that state. Authority to review, investigate or intervene in proceedings involving lawyers remains with the highest court of the state in which the lawyer practices. For grievance matters, please contact the disciplinary commission in the relevant state by scanning the "Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies."