Washington Lawyer - August 2017 - 25

Geoffrey M. Klineberg
A number of ABA-accredited law schools nationally
offer advanced law degree programs online that
are specifically developed for foreign-educated
attorneys. Although the ABA education standards
apply to J.D. programs only, and not to advanced
law degree programs, the standards provide a
benchmark of quality. The Task Force believes that
online courses should be acceptable if the law
school certifies that the course meets the ABA
distance education standards.
"We're relying on the ABA accreditation of law
schools and their distance learning programs to
ensure that students are qualified to take the exam,"
says Mottley. "That's why we talked to law schools
to see how they crafted the curriculum to deal with
bar exams."
The Task Force has published its recommendations
for public comment, and is expecting to review the
comments this fall. After its assessment, the Task
Force can choose to further modify its recommendations or leave them unchanged. After the Task Force
submits its final report and recommendations to the
Board of Governors, the Board will decide whether to
transmit the proposed rule changes to the D.C. Court
of Appeals for its consideration. The D.C. Court of
Appeals has the sole authority to adopt any changes
to the admissions rule.
The Task Force's proposed changes aren't expected
to affect the court's decision from February 2016 to
adopt the UBE as the District of Columbia's bar
examination, a move designed to streamline operations and provide more opportunities for prospective attorneys. The UBE was first administered in the
District in July 2016. By 2018, a total of 28 jurisdictions will be administering the UBE.

AN OPPORTUNITY
TO LEAD
In some regions of the world, admission to
a U.S. jurisdiction is a highly-regarded professional credential. Many foreign-educated
lawyers end up returning to their home
countries to work or joining multinational
firms with offices around the globe.

"The kinds of
law we do here in
[the District] are
unique in some
ways and different
from any other
part of the country.
We do see ourselves
as having a special
obligation in that
respect."
GEOFFREY M. KLINEBERG

German
Need help with
evidence that is
auf Deutsch?

"People out there are very interested in the D.C. Bar,
regardless of whether they're in the United States
or practicing abroad," says D.C. Bar President-Elect
Esther H. Lim, a partner at Farabow, Garrett &
Dunner LLP, who oversaw the Task Force's work and
recommendations. "I believe that they'll serve as an
excellent resource for U.S. attorneys to reach out to
for advice and counsel. They will bring back their
knowledge and experience and understanding
of U.S. procedure and laws to their home countries.
We will be sharing our system of the rule of law and
it will have a positive influence."

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Major attitude shifts in the U.S. legal system, and
the extent and intensity of globalization in the last
decade, have prompted many to look for opportunities to remove impediments to cross-border legal
practices.

WKWilburn P.C.
www.wkwilburn.com
wkw@wkwilburn.com

"It really is an opportunity to lead, not only the bars
in the United States but also internationally," says
Lim of the D.C. Bar's efforts over the last three years.
"We can have a very wide footprint. As globalization
becomes increasingly prevalent and the scope of
international practices grows, the opportunities and
the challenges become greater for the Bar."

(301) 652-9700

Sarah Kellogg is a regular contributor to
Washington Lawyer.
*

WASHINGTON LAWYER

AUGUST 2017 25

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