The State Bar of California includes attorneys who have been educated abroad. CA Bar accepts applicants with foreign licenses.You do not need a JD or LLM. Yes, foreign lawyers can take the California Bar Exam, but there are specific requirements and conditions they must meet. If you do not have a qualifying foreign law degree, you are not eligible to take the California bar exam. You will also need to submit a foreign law degree evaluation. Even if you pass the CA Bar Exam it is tough to find work as an attorney who did not study in the US (unless you get an LLM). For example, you can sit as a "foreign attorney" applicant, if you show that you are a member in good standing in a foreign jurisdiction. The California Bar Exam is a two-day test held on the last Tuesday and Wednesday in July (Feb 21-22, 2023). I am a foreign attorney.