Currently, only graduates of ABA-approved American law schools may sit for the Wisconsin bar examination. That could change under a rule considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Feb. 11, 2009 – On Feb. 9, the Wisconsin Supreme Court took public comment and then debated the merits of a proposed rule
8-09 enabling graduates of foreign law schools to join the Wisconsin bar through examination.
James Huston, vice chair of the Board of Bar Examiners, explained that his organization sponsored the proposal in recognition of a world economy that increasingly brings immigrants with legal skills to Wisconsin.
Illustrating Huston’s point, British lawyer Gail Worley and Mexican lawyer Cynthia Herber appeared before the court to explain that despite their many years of practice in their native countries, they are not graduates of ABA-approved American law schools and consequently are barred from sitting for the bar examination.
Justices identified areas of concern and directed the BBE to rework the draft rule. Among the issues to resolve: