How I, Peet Viljoen, a South African Lawyer, Am Qualifying in the USA
I built my career in South Africa, admitted in 1996 and practicing for more than two decades. But when I came to the USA, I had to start over. If you’re a South African lawyer who dreams of qualifying here, this is exactly how I did it — step by step.
Step 1: Applying to the Bar starts with your University
My way:
First: Email your University’s verification division. They always have steps for you to request what the USA calls “transcripts of your studies.”
At your South African University, this is called your academic transcripts.
Example: University of Pretoria’s division → verifications@up.ac.za
👉 Request for these transcripts to be both emailed and physically mailed in the post. There is a reason for this.
💰 Pay a fee of about R800 and your documents will be on their way.
Why this matters (extra detail):
The U.S. Bar examiners will only accept documents sent directly by the university in a sealed envelope or via secure electronic delivery. Self-sent copies are rejected. The hard copy on official paper prevents fraud.
Step 2: Pick Your State — New York, California, Washington D.C., or Washington State
My way:
After this, there is a second step that is mandatory. New York is too big and too busy, so they have approved suppliers who you send your verification documents to.
For California, for example, they use companies like ERES.com.
Corrected detail:
New York → Actually, New York does not use third-party evaluators. You apply directly to the New York Board of Law Examiners (BOLE) using their Foreign Evaluation Form. Your university mails transcripts, degree certificate, and admission certificate straight to BOLE. If your degree isn’t fully equivalent, they’ll let you complete a 1-year LL.M. in the U.S.
California (Los Angeles) → California uses approved evaluation companies such as ERES or IERF. You send your transcripts there, they prepare a course-by-course report, and California Bar relies on that to clear you.
Washington, D.C. → Requires one year (26 credits) at a U.S. law school, usually an LL.M., then you can sit the D.C. Bar Exam.
Washington State (Seattle) → Similar to New York: they review your South African degree, and if needed, you bridge with an LL.M. before sitting the UBE (Uniform Bar Exam).
Step 3: Register with the Evaluation Company (for California, etc.)
My way:
Third step, log on to the evaluation company’s website. You can start there or call them if it feels weird.
Here’s what you do:
Create an account
Find a button for “Request Evaluation”
Print the evaluation company’s application form
Load your verification documents you received from your university. Send your hard copies, stamped and certified originals, to the evaluation company in New York or LA.
This means your university will print an original document on proper thick paper and certify it. The New York bar and verification people use this to avoid fraudulent documents.
Why this matters (extra detail):
For California, the evaluation must be course-by-course. This is how they check if your degree matches U.S. standards. For New York, skip this step — BOLE does it themselves.
Step 4: Create Your Applicant Portal
My way:
After you completed this, log on to the New York or California Bar site. Don’t click the section where U.S. lawyers log in — that could be confusing. It’s called Applicant Portal.
Create an account. On the application, when they ask “Where did you study?”, don’t try to put your university in. Select FOREIGN LAW (it should pop up) and fill out all the sections.
Extra detail:
California → “Foreign Law School Not Listed” is the option you’ll use.
New York → BOLE’s portal includes a Foreign Evaluation Form.
D.C. and Washington → similar process, but they will expect LL.M. proof before you can proceed.
Step 5: The Exams & Final Hurdles
My way:
Once your documents are cleared, you’re not done. You still have to:
Write the Bar Exam
Pass the MPRE (ethics exam)
Complete the Character & Fitness review, where you disclose your legal career in South Africa and your history in the U.S.
Extra detail:
California → has its own 2-day exam.
New York, Washington D.C., Washington State → use the Uniform Bar Exam (UBE).
MPRE is usually taken separately at a testing center like Pearson VUE.
My Advice
Start with your transcripts. Follow the steps in order. Don’t overcomplicate it.
Request sealed transcripts from your university.
Decide which of the four easier states fits you: New York, California, Washington D.C., or Washington State.
Register with the right evaluator (if needed).
Create your Applicant Portal and file your application.
Write the exams.
That’s how I, Peet Viljoen, am taking my South African legal career into the USA. If I can do it, so can you.