Aktuelle Sprache: en
Recognition of foreign professional qualifications - Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt/Rechtsanwältin)
Lawyers advise and represent clients in all legal matters. In court proceedings, they represent the interests of their clients and, at the same time, as organs of the administration of justice, support judges in finding justice.
Lawyers work
Procedure
Lawyers work
- in law firms
- in auditing firms and accountancy firms
- in companies in almost all sectors of the economy
- in interest groups, associations and organisations
- at professional academies such as the Lawyers' Academy
- have completed professional training which entitles you to direct access to the profession of European lawyer, and
- if less than half of the minimum period of training was completed in a member state of the European Union, another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland: have practised the profession of a European lawyer for at least three years in the state which issued or recognised the evidence of admission qualification.
Procedure
- Submit an application for the determination and recognition of an equivalent professional qualification from abroad.
- The Examinations Office confirms receipt of the application within one month and, if applicable, informs you if any documents or records are missing.
- The Examinations Office decides on the application no later than 4 months after receipt of all required documents.
- The Examinations Office requires the applicant to take an aptitude test if
- their training related to subjects which differ substantially from those required for practising the profession of lawyer in Germany, and
- these differences are not otherwise compensated for, in particular through professional practice or further training measures.
Prerequisites
-
Foreign professional qualification as a European lawyer
You have completed professional training which entitles you to direct access to the profession of European lawyer. -
Aptitude test
If their professional training related to subjects which differ substantially from those required for practising the profession of lawyer in Germany and these differences have not been compensated for in other ways, in particular through professional practice or further training measures -
Language skills
You have the necessary German language skills to work as a lawyer in Germany.
Documents required
-
Application for the determination of an equivalent professional qualification for admission to the Bar
Possible online; or you can use the form. -
Identity document
Passport or identity card -
Curriculum vitae
A current curriculum vitae in table form and in German language (list of your educational background and professional experience) -
Foreign professional qualifications
Proof of the entitlement for direct access to the profession of a European lawyer -
Evidence of relevant professional experience and other evidence of qualifications
Proof that more than half of the minimum period of training was completed in member states of the European Union or in other contracting states to the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or a certificate of at least three years of professional practice in one of these states. -
Explanation of further applications
Declaration that the application for the determination of an equivalent professional qualification has not been submitted to another examination office at the same time, whether an application has already been submitted or an aptitude test has already been taken, and if so, at which examination offices. -
Documents in German language or German translation
All relevant documents that are not available in German must be submitted with a German translation. The translations must be done by translators who are publicly appointed or authorised. -
Explanation of previous examination attempts
Explanation of the examination offices to which an application has already been submitted or an aptitude test has already been taken. -
Determination of the elective subjects if an aptitude test is to be taken
The application shall also contain: the designation of elective subjects for second supervisory work and for the oral examination. The indication of the optional subjects can still be made up for within one month after the applicant has been informed of the decision on the imposition of an aptitude test. -
Aptitude test is not imposed
The aptitude test shall not be imposed if there is appropriate evidence that the differences in training have been compensated by professional practice or further training measures.
Fees
none
Legal basis
- Federal Lawyers' Act (Bundesrechtsanwaltsordnung or (BRAO) § 4
- Act on the Activities of European Lawyers in Germany (Gesetz über die Tätigkeit europäischer Rechtsanwälte in Deutschland or EuRAG) § 16 ff.
- Ordinance on the Qualifying Examination for Admission to the Bar (Verordnung über die Eignungsprüfung für die Zulassung zur Rechtsanwaltschaft or RAZEignPrV) § 3 ff.
Average time to process request
- 1 month: Confirm receipt of application and inform if any documents are missing.
- 4 months: Decision on the application
More information
- Leaflet on the aptitude test
- Exam dates
- Sample tasks from previous proficiency tests
- Auxiliaries for the qualifying examination
- Professional titles under which the profession of European lawyer may be exercised
- Financial assistance in the recognition procedure
- Publicly appointed translators in Germany
Hinweise zur Zuständigkeit
Joint Examination Office of the Senate Department responsible for Justice (GJPA).
- responsible for the federal states: Berlin, Brandenburg, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein
- Joint Examination Office of the states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia in Düsseldorf and
- Joint Examination Office of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Free States of Bavaria and Saxony at the Ministry of Justice of Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart.