Scots lawyer called to New York bar

Scottish advocate, Lucy Keane recently celebrated her admission as an Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in the State of New York. Speaking after her admission ceremony in Albany, New York, Ms Keane said: “ I was delighted to pass the New York Bar Exam at the first attempt - it’s certainly a tough one. “It wasn’t easy juggling work commitments with the intensive study required for the Bar Exam. I can safely say it is one of the most challenging things I have done.”

The New York Bar exam is reputed to be one of the world’s toughest with candidates covering all aspects of New York State law on the first day and taking part in a US-wide Multi-State Bar Exam on the second day. According to Ms Keane, the hardest aspect was “mastering the US multiple choice format of the Multi-State and some of the New York exam. “It’s not a method we are used to here, whereas the Americans have just come through college and university and are comfortable with that approach. “It can be hard to get into the American mind-set for this one and when you’re faced with 200 questions covering every area of US law, it can be daunting.

“It’s comforting, though, to know that even the Americans are often stumped and I’ve met some who were on their fourth or fifth attempt at the Bar.”

Reflecting on her admission before the Supreme Court of the State of New York she added: ”I have had a very warm welcome to the New York State Bar and it’s a great honour to be part of the profession here. “I’m delighted that the commitment I made has paid off. I now look forward to using my New York qualification to develop a practice in international arbitration. The experience I have from many years in practice at the bar in Scotland and as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators will certainly stand me in good stead for this exciting step in my career.”

Ms Keane, who called to the bar in 1988 and was a Temporary Sheriff, can be contacted at lucy.keane@advocates.org.uk.