By Pamela Rajunov Djaddah, Esq., Business Law
Estudié Derecho en México ― que es un sistema de derecho civil ― y a pesar de eso, los materiales proporcionados por BARBRI hicieron fácil que aprendiera lo suficiente para poder pasar el examen de la Barra de California. Estudié a distancia, leí los materiales y escuché las clases en línea y ahora soy una abogada que puede ejercer derecho en dos jurisdicciones ― México y California ― trabajando en un despacho de abogados en California. Asimismo, el personal de BARBRI respondió todas las preguntas y dudas a mi entera satisfacción.
The simple translation is this: I passed the California Bar Exam with ease (con facilidad) with BARBRI by my side.
I am proud to say I am a dual-licensed lawyer in Mexico and California. I earned my civil law degree in Mexico City and my LL.M. in International Business from Tilburg University in The Netherlands. The focus of my work for more than a decade has been with corporate clients on matters including real estate acquisitions, M&As, contracts, and private equity.
I was with a major law firm when I first considered sitting for a U.S. bar exam. The work was inspiring, but the hours were long. When I was ready to explore my career options, a friend suggested I look into a U.S. state bar examination. I knew I did not want to live in New York City (it’s too cold), so I decided to pursue the California Bar Exam. I investigated foreign qualifications in California, how to become a lawyer in California and bar preparation courses. BARBRI stood out as one of the best.
I found the course information available on the BARBRI website to be friendly and easy to understand. There were flexible course options that made studying as a full-time working attorney very manageable. I began studying remotely using the BARBRI Extended U.S. Bar Prep course. The online lectures were so well-prepared; the materials were quite clear and offered plenty of explanations and real-world examples.
Ultimate Personalization and Support
Coming from a civil law jurisdiction in Mexico, I was drawn to the teachings of the common law legal system. BARBRI made learning interesting and preparing for the exam bullet proof.
When I was ready to sit the exam, BARBRI was quick to reach out to me to ensure I had what I needed to get there. I felt 100% supported by the BARBRI team. They seemed genuinely committed to making my U.S. bar exam experience happen.
Now I am a cross-border attorney, licensed to practice law in California and in Mexico. I lived and worked in San Diego, California for more than four years with a focus on business law. I am now back in Mexico working as a legal associate for RL&A abogados, but I have American clients who want to invest in Mexico and vice versa. With my dual licensure, I am able to counsel them on the best way to go about completing cross-border transactions. I also handle probate law cases for clients in both countries.
My advice for other Latin American lawyers considering expanding their career in the American legal system by sitting a U.S. bar exam and becoming an international lawyer: you should, and you should study with BARBRI! It is truly a great asset and you can work with both legal systems. Many clients want an attorney who can bring dual knowledge and dual languages to the table. You will add real value to your firm or organization.
If you are a foreign law graduate or lawyer, you may already be eligible to sit for a U.S. state bar exam. Learn more about U.S. bar exam eligibility and requirements.
Ready to begin studying? Check out BARBRI bar prep course options.
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