Checklists can be extremely helpful during any student’s time in law school. For international U.S. LL.M. students, they can be lifesavers in navigating a new graduation process and U.S. bar exam requirements and necessities. To help you make the most of your U.S. law school experience and foreign bar eligibility, we’ve created the following checklist to use as a reference during your international legal journey.
Graduation eligibility
- Complete a degree audit to confirm your eligibility to graduate and make note of any outstanding requirements.
- Complete any outstanding degree requirements.
- Submit your senior writing requirement or journal comment before final exams, if required and not already completed.
- Apply to graduate pursuant to your university’s specifications.
Commencement to-dos
- Confirm the number of commencement tickets you’re eligible to receive for family members and friends. If necessary, apply for extra tickets or join the waitlist for extra tickets.
- Confirm your guest list for commencement weekend.
- Retrieve tickets and announcement cards. You’ll feel fancy if you send out announcements to family and friends.
- Return or ‘gift’ any unused commencement tickets right away.
Reservations and bookings
- Book a graduation photo slot, or plan to take photos yourself before commencement. You’ll likely want to capture this momentous occasion.
- Book accommodations for guests if they’re not staying with you, or confirm guests have obtained accommodations if you’re not handling the bookings for them.
- Obtain visitor parking permits for guests if necessary.
- Confirm your guests’ travel arrangements, including arrival and departure date(s) and time(s).
- Reserve a moving truck if you’re leaving the city/state permanently after graduation.
Visa, Bar and employment requirements
- Obtain an extension on your F-1 visa if you’re planning to study for a U.S. state bar exam.
- Request your law school certificate be mailed immediately after commencement to complete your U.S. bar application.
- Send final transcripts to your employer or potential employer, if required.
- Select a U.S. bar prep course that’s designed for foreign candidates. You want to do this early so you can begin building mastery of the materials.
Miscellaneous
- If desired, purchase commencement apparel and/or a graduation ring.
- Clear out your locker and/or journal or board office space.
- Return any library books.
- Plan, or attend, a farewell gathering with your classmates or law school friends during commencement weekend, or immediately before/after.
- Carve out time to say goodbye to your favorite professors, advisors, mentors, etc. This can be a great time to do a little networking with these people, since they may be able to put in a good word for you with potential employers.
- Apply for any summer funding opportunities and/or post-graduation fellowships or internships.
- Cancel or put a hold on city-specific memberships if you’re leaving the city after graduation.
- Terminate your lease and cancel utilities if you’re leaving the city permanently after graduation.
- And of course, crush all your U.S. law school final exams with help from the BARBRI LL.M. Guide!
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