Hi,
I am a legal student having studying the GDL and LPC at London
Institutions. I wish to practice in the USA but unfortunately the New
York Bar does not recognise a GDL only an LLB. However California does
recognise this qualification. My question is two fold in that are
there any other states that will allow me to do the Bar course in
their particualar state and therefore recognise the GDL? I have been
told but with no evidence that there are some states where I can
complete the Bar course, practice within a firm for one year and then
open up my own legal practice. Does any one know if this is true?
Lastly I have been told that if I want to complete the in New York i
must first study for an LLM. Does any one know if this has to be
completed in the US? Also the rough associated cost?

Some links regarding New York:

http://www.nybarexam.org/adminfo.htm

http://www.nybarexam.org/admissionspackage.pdf

http://www.nybarexam.org/barexam.htm

http://www.nybarexam.org/foreign.htm

I'm an attorney. The work for a year and then be free to practice on
one's own sounds like the Canadian requirement of "articling" - after
you finish law school you work for a year prior to being admitted.

There is no "Bar Course" per se, although there are tons of private
companies that offer preparation courses typically taken between
graduating law school and taking the Bar Exam (held twice a year
during the last week of February and July - some states require a two
day exam, some three days). These Bar Prep courses (e.g. BarBri) are
not required; a person can obtain their academic credential as
required by the state, file their application with the State Bar
Association, and study on their own, if they like. Once you pass the
Bar (and usually a separate exam on professional responsibility) you
are sworn in and you can hang out your shingle and practice law.

There is a comprehensive list on the ABA website explaining the
academic admissions requirements of all 50 States.
See:
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/chart3.pdf

Also see http://www.abanet.org/legaled/publications/compguide2005/chart10.pdf

Generally an L.L.M. takes about 1 year and will cost you between
10,000 and 40,000 in tuition.