Recognize a foreign professional qualification as a lawyer

Prerequisites

• You have completed training that entitles you to immediate access to the profession of a European member of the legal profession
• Other requirements depend on your education and work experience. The aptitude test can be waived if professional training has been completed that entitles you to direct access to the profession of a European member of the legal profession.

Documents required

• Application
• Tabular CV
• Evidence of entitlement to direct access to the profession of a European legal practitioner
• Proof that more than half of the minimum training period was carried out in member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, or a certificate of at least three years of professional practice in one of these states
• Declaration as to whether and at which examination offices an application has already been made or an aptitude test taken
• You can find out more documents required from the Joint Examination Office for the second state examination in law in the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court

Please note

No

Deadlines

Please inquire about the deadlines at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Joint Examination Office for the second state examination in law.

Procedure

If you want to have your foreign professional qualification as a lawyer recognized, apply to the Judicial Examination Office:

• The Judicial Examination Office will check whether you have acquired all the knowledge and skills required for working as a lawyer in Germany during your training.
• In this case, your degree will be recognised.
• If there are any differences, you must take an aptitude test.
• The aptitude test consists of a written and an oral part.
• Two supervised papers are to be prepared as written examinations.
• The oral examination consists of a short presentation and an examination discussion.
• The Examination Office issues a confirmation of the successful completion of the aptitude test.
• A failed proficiency test may be repeated twice.

Processing time

Please inquire about the processing time at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Joint Examination Office for the second state examination in law.

Fees

The fees depend on your personal case.

Legal remedies

Please inquire about any legal remedies at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court, Joint Examination Office for the second state examination in law.

Legal basis

§ 4 Federal Lawyers Act

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/brao/__4.html


Section 16 et seq. Law on the Activities of European Lawyers in Germany

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/eurag/__16.html


§ 3 ff. Ordinance on the aptitude test for admission to the legal profession

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/razeignprv/__3.html

If you have completed training abroad that allows you to work as a lawyer, you can have this qualification recognised. This recognition allows you to work as a lawyer in Germany.
If your training differs significantly from the requirements, you must first take an aptitude test.