Apply for admission to the legal traineeship for persons from the EU

Prerequisites

You must have a university degree in law from a member state of the European Union.

Documents required

• your diploma,
• your diplomas,
• test certificates,
• other qualifications
• Evidence of relevant work experience
• You must submit the documents in the original or as a certified copy.

Please note

Before submitting an application, it is advisable to have a personal interview with a member of staff.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

• You must apply in writing for the equivalence test to be carried out by applying for admission to the preparatory service.
• Enclose a certified copy or the original of your degree certificate and your other proof of achievement with this application.
• After the application has been received, the equivalence test will take place.
• If full equivalence of your degree is determined, a corresponding notification will be issued.
• With this decision, you can apply for a position in the legal traineeship.
• The application procedure is then based on the application procedure for applicants who have obtained their university degree in Germany.
• If equivalence is not or only partially determined, you will also receive notification of this. In order to be admitted to the legal traineeship in this case, you have to take an aptitude test. You must apply for the aptitude test in writing.
• After passing the aptitude test, you can apply for admission to the legal traineeship. The application procedure is then based on the application procedure for applicants who have obtained their university degree in Germany.
• The aptitude test basically consists of 6 supervised papers (although these can be waived in part due to a determination of partial equivalence). The aptitude test is passed if at least 3 supervisory papers, of which at least one is from civil law, have been passed.

Processing time

The processing time for the equivalence test is (in the case of complete documents) about 3 months. The aptitude test procedure takes around 6 months from the date of application.

Fees

There are no fees.

Legal remedies

contradiction

Legal basis

§ 112a paragraph 1 German Judges Act

With the successful equivalence test, the equivalence of your university degree with the state compulsory subject examination of the first legal examination is determined. This allows you to be admitted to the legal traineeship.