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Apply for recognition as a lawyer with a foreign professional qualification Schule, Ausbildung und Studium Arbeit

You have completed your training as a lawyer or lawyer abroad and would now like to work in Germany? Find out about the requirements here.

  • Basic information

    If you have completed an education abroad that allows you to work as a lawyer, you can have this degree recognized. With this recognition, you may work as a lawyer in Germany.

    If your education differs significantly from the requirements, you must first pass an aptitude test.

    Requirements

    You have a completed education that entitles you to direct access to the profession of a European lawyer

  • Procedure

    • Submit an application to the Judicial Examination Office
    • The Judicial Examination Office checks 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 differences, you will have to take an aptitude test.
    • The aptitude test consists of a written and an oral part.
    • The written part of the examination consists of 2 supervisory papers.
    • The oral examination consists of a short presentation and a discussion.
    • The examination office will issue a confirmation of successful completion of the qualifying examination. A failed aptitude test may be repeated 2 times.

    More information

    Competent body
    Bremen does not have its own competent body. There is a joint agreement between the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.

    The Berlin Judicial Examination Office is the joint examination office in the area of the contracting states. It conducts the qualifying examination for admission to the bar.
    Deadlines
    The deadlines vary in the Joint Judicial Examination Offices.
    For the states

    • Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
    • Berlin
    • Brandenburg
    • Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
    • Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
    • Lower Saxony
    • Saxony-Anhalt
    • Schleswig-Holstein

    the following applies:
    The aptitude test takes place in December. You must submit the application by July 31.

  • Necessary Documents

    • Request
  • Competent Department

  • Online Services

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    The fees depend on your personal case.

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 17.11.2025

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