The State Bar of California includes attorneys who have been educated abroad. No state bar requires a foreign lawyer to have U.S. citizenship in order to practice law in the United States.There are some states which do allow foreign law graduates to sit for the bar exam, including New York, California, New Hampshire, Alabama, and Virginia. 1. Confirm your eligibility 2. Apply for the bar exam 3. Learn everything you need to know about applying for the U.S. Bar Exam as a foreign student or attorney: requirements, eligibility, and more. Yes, foreign lawyers can take the California Bar Exam, but there are specific requirements and conditions they must meet. You do not need a law degree to sit the California State Bar Exam. You do not even need 'a degree' at all. Currently, 34 states and one jurisdiction that allow foreign attorneys to sit for the bar exam if they have earned LL.M. degrees in the United States.