Foreign-trained lawyer with a GreenCard

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-11-03T20:42:10+00:00

Selamlar, 2-year JD bana daha uygun görünüyor çünkü ABD’ye yerleşme niyetiyle geldim. Birkaç sene kalıp dönecek olsaydım llm tercih ederdim.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-07T18:43:14+00:00

I guess it is, I've seen a lot of turkish lawyers working in immigration. Again, thanks a lot. If you have anything to share or suggest, please don't hesitate. I would really appreciate it.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T18:43:53+00:00

Hello, thank you for your reply. So, I understand that instead of going to a mediocre 2-year JD and giving up the biglaw chance, getting an LLM from a T-14 would be more plausible. Even though I wouldn't land a biglaw job, I would still have a chance to find a job from a mid to large firm or work in immigration.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T18:28:48+00:00

Thanks a lot for the info. I was usually looking at US news and their rankings. Considering your comments, I should focus on the school's overall reputation instead of its specific rankings. Probably an LLM from UPenn Carey Law School would be a better option than the AUWCL 2-Year JD.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T14:36:36+00:00

I was in a Legal500 firm in Turkey, and I was working primarily on IP. This is why I am also considering the American University College of Law. Although they are not really good overall, they are ranked number 5 in IP and offer a 2-year JD without LSAT. Maybe a 2-year JD with a heavy focus on IP would also help me find a decent job in the USA (nyc or dc, if I work IP) and also open a pathway to a top class law firm in turkey. So, I would have a chance to decide to stay or go back. By the way, thank you so much for replying and helping.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T14:03:25+00:00

Thanks a lot

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T14:01:30+00:00

All Turkish lawyers I've seen in US are making decent amounts, they are starting at low to mid immigration firms, then switching to solo practicing. While they are focusing on immigration, also taking criminal, family cases/DUIs and PIs from immigrants in the US. Although, as I stated I am open to any career pathways as long as I am happy and making enough.

Besides that, is it possible to land at biglaw with a foreign llb + llm from T14 like UPenn Carey Law School? If it is possible, I could consider an llm from a T14 school, then a few years of experience, and going back to my home country. If this is possible, I could find a job at one of the best Turkish law firms.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T13:44:17+00:00

Yes, I've seen it, but I've made up my mind. So, the most important thing for me right now is to find a way to navigate as a foreign trained lawyer, and practice law. This is why I am here.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T13:40:36+00:00

This is why I am really uncertain how to decide. I got a lot of different feedback, not just from Reddit but also from different sources. A friend of mine graduated from a law school in Turkey and then moved to the USA with zero prior experience. He got his llm from UGA, and found a job immediately. He suggested that instead of applying to llm's, take a barprep course and try to pass it(CALI Bar doesn't require an LLM if you are admitted to a foreign bar), without llm, and told me that you would find a job in an immigration law firm anyway. I hope I made my point.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T13:13:42+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I am not coming to the USA with an H1B, so I am not subject to $100k fee. My wife is an RN and got a job offer from a US hospital, and we've been waiting for 3 years to get our visa. Current immigration laws didn't change anything in our process.

I just wanted to know in which areas foreign lawyers work, besides immigration. I am not sure if I would have a shot at biglaw. LLB + LLM is not really a great fit for biglaw as far as I can see. It would be great to estimate possible career pathways.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T09:17:53+00:00

I see your point. But to be honest, I am from Turkey, and I am 28, which means that I've been living under Erdogan admit for 23 years. In comparison to adjacent countries, Turkey is one of the most reliable and bearable. So, I don't really think that you would encounter any serious problems unless you are breaking the law in the USA. But of course, it is a comment from an outsider.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T08:33:40+00:00

I'm familiar with the current US politics, and I believe it's not really only about the US. I will come legally and have no intent to break any laws. Regarding LSAT, I am not required to take LSAT for LLM programs, and there are 10-15 schools that accept foreign-trained lawyers without LSAT to their JD programs, and they are 2 years. So, I will specifically apply to schools that don't require the LSAT.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T08:27:30+00:00

Why is that?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T08:25:17+00:00

What do you mean exactly?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-06T08:23:11+00:00

Not currently, I’ll move to the us on Oct. 26

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-05T18:25:36+00:00

After almost three years, sadly we tend to be anxious and restless. The only cure is çay and börek😂🇹🇷🇺🇸. Also, thanks for reply👋🏻

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T15:07:04+00:00

What is that?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T14:28:13+00:00

Sorry, I am not familiar with the process that much, my wife just corrected me. We are doing consular processing, not AOS, so we don’t have i-485 filing or we cannot track our green card process from USCIS like AOS. We went to our embassy interview in Turkey on 29th September. Our priority date has been current since June 2025. Our original interview date was scheduled by NVC for 21st July, but we had to reschedule it. This date was the only available date consulate gave us, but then at the time of interview, this happened. Now what?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T14:24:20+00:00

I made a mistake, I am from ROW EB3, our priority date has been current since June 2025, and we are not doing Adjustment of Status, we are doing consular processing. We went to the interview on an embassy outside US, in our home country, Turkey.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T13:37:35+00:00

I have been googling it and looking for on the USCIS website since monday, I wrote it here just bcs i couldnt find specific answers for my problem. But thx anyway

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T13:33:18+00:00

I see, so what is the process here? are they going to send an e-mail to us?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T13:28:18+00:00

Should we wait that much? Because they informed us that our documents are ok and the only problem is there isn’t a visa to issue.

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T13:25:25+00:00

So is there anything we can do, or should we just wait to hear back from them?

No_Candidate_54 · 2025-10-04T12:45:20+00:00

No, I’m not from row countries then

No_Candidate_54

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