Question: How recognised is a law degree and masters degree from south africa , overseas?

i need to know the chances of securing a job abroad with a south africa law degree. thanks

Answer:

I don't know anything about what visa problems you might face. But in terms of practicing law, here in the US, the rules vary by state. Generally, your law degree must be from a law school that is accredited by the ABA (American Bar Association) to even qualify. Many law schools in other countries *are not* ABA-accredited. If your law school is ABA-accredited, then you have to take and pass the bar exam given in the US state in which you want to practice law. The difficulty of this exam varies by state. The exam is not just designed to make sure you're a qualified lawyer. It's designed by people who already have law licenses to discourage competition from newcomers, so in some states, the rules for qualifying for the bar exam and for passing the exam are daunting.

California is one of the more notorious ones. Someone who had actually been a federal judge and Harvard Law School professor took the California bar exam to try and get a license to be a lawyer in California and famously failed the test.

Here are the California requirements, according to one website:
http://www.top-law-schools.com/californi…

I'm told that New York is hard too. As is the Washington DC area. And Massachusetts. Places where young lawyers want to live tend to be the hardest areas to qualify to become lawyers.

So to practice law in the USA:
Step 1: Does your law school have ABA accreditation? (Ask them.) If not, you'd probably have to go to law school here again before you could even take the test.
Step 2: Can you get a visa?
Step 3: Can you pass the bar exam in the state where you want to practice?

Each country sets their own rules.