Would it be stupid to go to law school and not practice law?

I really want to go to a good law school abroad. And I want to practice here in the Philippines?

• Would there be any problems? I mean, there is the difference in justice system and everything. If I go to US for law school and practice here in the Philippines, would I have ...show more

• Answer:

  You would not be able to sit for the bar in the Philippines with a US law degree. You would have to get a law degree from a Filipino law school even after you obtained your JD from a US school to practice there. This rule is not limited to US schools. From a purely practical standpoint, US law schools would teach you nothing about the rule of law in the Philippines - you would be completely unfit to practice even if it were allowed. You might consider obtaining your law degree in the Philippines and obtaining your LLM afterward in the US. This program is usually designed for international lawyers wishing to expand their knowledge. The LLM usually does not allow you to sit for the bar in the US, though some states do allow it, so with a law degree from the Philippines and a LLM from the US you would be able to practice in the Philippines and in a few US states. You would be much more marketable to international firms and corporations this way if that is the path you intend to take.