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Legal profession; application for determination of the equivalence of a professional qualification

If you have completed training abroad that allows you to work as a lawyer, you can have this qualification recognized. This recognition allows you to work as a lawyer in Germany.

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Procedure details

Persons who are authorized in a member state of the European Union, in another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland to work independently as a lawyer under one of the professional titles listed in the Annex to the Act on the Activities of European Lawyers in Germany (EuRAG) may apply to the competent examination offices for a determination of the equivalence of their professional qualification.

With the determination of equivalence, the applicant can obtain admission to the bar in Germany. In addition to practicing as a European lawyer, he/she will thus be able to practice as a lawyer in Germany within the meaning of Section 12 (4) of the Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO).

If the equivalence of the professional qualification is successfully established, admission to the bar is also not subject to the requirements of integration pursuant to sections 11 et seq. EuRAG. In particular, admission to the bar does not depend on the applicant having already practiced effectively and regularly as a European lawyer in Germany for three years.

You have completed training that entitles you to direct access to the profession of European lawyer.

  • tabular resume

    (in German language)

  • Evidence certifying the right to direct access to the profession of a European lawyer.

    (original or copy)

  • Proof that more than half of the minimum training period was carried out in a member state of the European Union or another contracting state of the European Economic Area or Switzerland.
  • if applicable, certification by the state in which the access authorization was issued that the profession of European lawyer has been practiced in the certifying state for at least three years
    (only if the admission to the profession of European lawyer has not been issued by a Member State of the European Union or another Contracting State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland)
  • Declaration as to whether and, if so, at which examination offices an application for the determination of the equivalence of the qualification has already been submitted or an aptitude test has been taken.

    (in German language)

  • If applicable, suitable evidence of professional experience or further training measures

    (if differences in professional training have been compensated by professional practice or further training measures)

  • The relevant Examination Office will indicate whether documents are to be submitted in a simple or certified translation.

The equivalence of a professional qualification acquired abroad is determined upon application.

The competent examination office for the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and Saxony is the State Justice Examination Office of Baden-Württemberg as the "Joint Examination Office of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Free States of Bavaria and Saxony".

The aptitude test for admission to the bar is also conducted in Germany by the following examination offices:

  • Joint Examination Office of the federal states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia for the aptitude test for admission to the bar and
  • Joint Examination Office of the federal states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein

The Examination Office determines the equivalence of a professional qualification from abroad if the professional qualification acquired there includes the knowledge that is essential for practicing the profession of lawyer in Germany.

If such equivalence cannot be established, the applicant has the option of proving their qualification by passing an aptitude test.

Once the equivalence of the training has been established, the competent bar association will grant admission to the bar.

There may be costs for translations and notarizations. These costs vary from case to case.

Information on the costs incurred for admission to the bar associations is provided by the respective bar associations.

none

The Examination Office confirms receipt of the application for determination of equivalence within one month of receipt of the application. It shall decide on the application no later than four months after receipt of all required documents. The imposition of an aptitude test is considered a decision in this sense.

The administrative courts decide on disputes in connection with the determination of the equivalence of a foreign professional qualification with the profession of lawyer.

Status: 20.08.2024
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bayerisches Staatsministerium der Justiz
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