Admission to practise in the USA
The criteria for eligibility to take the bar examination or to otherwise qualify for bar admission in the US are prescribed at the US State level. These requirements vary greatly from State to State, in particular the requirements for admission of foreign-educated law graduates. Some states do have mutual recognition.
Australian law students and graduates should refer to the Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements published by the American Bar Association for a State by State guide to eligibility for foreign educated law graduates to sit for the relevant bar exam.
Bar Review Programs
Bar exams in the US are very intensive and notoriously difficult to pass, and the majority of candidates, local and foreign qualified, undertake a preparatory course prior to sitting for the relevant bar exam.
There are a number of institutions that offer preparatory courses for the Bar exams.
New York and California Bar Review Pty Ltd
Further information is available at the American Bar Association website.
An overview of the legal environment and a directory of firms practicing in the USA is available on Legal 500.
Vault also has interesting information on the USA legal environment.