Rechtsanwältin oder Rechtsanwalt; ausländische Berufsqualifikation anerkennen

Have you completed your training as a lawyer abroad and would now like to work in Germany? Find out more about the requirements here.

If you have completed training abroad that allows you to work as a lawyer, you can have this degree recognised. With this recognition, you are allowed to work as a lawyer in Germany.

If your training differs significantly from the requirements, you must first take an aptitude test.

• Application
• a curriculum vitae in tabular form,
• proof of eligibility for direct access to the profession of European lawyer;
• proof that more than half of the minimum training period has been completed in Member States of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area or Switzerland, or a certificate of at least three years' professional practice in one of these countries,
• a statement as to whether and to which examination offices an application has already been submitted or an aptitude test has been taken.

You can find out which documents are also required at the Joint Legal Examination Office.

• You have completed training which entitles you to direct access to the profession of European lawyer

The fees depend on your personal case.

• Submit an application to the Judicial Examination Office
• The Judicial Examination Office will check whether you have acquired all the knowledge and skills required to work as a lawyer in Germany during your training
• In this case, your degree will be recognized
• If there are any differences, you will have to take an aptitude test
• The aptitude test consists of a written and an oral part.
• Two supervisory papers must be completed as written examinations.
• The oral exam consists of a short presentation and an exam interview.
• The Examinations Office will issue a confirmation of the successful completion of the aptitude test. A failed aptitude test may be repeated twice.

The deadlines vary in the Joint Legal Examination Offices .

• Determination of equivalence of a lawyer with a professional qualification from abroad
• Admission as a lawyer with a degree from abroad is only possible after prior examination
• Examination is carried out upon request by a Joint Legal Examination Office
• In principle, an aptitude test is necessary
• The aptitude test may be issued upon completion of professional training giving entitlement to direct access to the profession of European lawyer
• Fees apply
• Requirements depend on education and work experience

Contact the Joint Legal Examination Office of your country.