Recognition of foreign professional qualifications - Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt/Rechtsanwältin) at the location Gemeinsames Juristisches Prüfungsamt der Länder Berlin und Brandenburg (GJPA)

 Larger map

Contact

  • This facility is fully accessible to wheelchairs.
  • Handicapped parking space available.
  • An elevator fully accessible to wheelchairs is available.
  • A WC fully accessible to wheelchairs is available.
Explanation of symbols

Für Rollstuhlbenutzer besteht die Möglichkeit des Zugangs über den Eingang Badensche Straße 2.
Dort befindet sich 1 ausgewiesener Behindertenparkplatz.

Barrierefreie WC´s befinden sich im Raum 71 und 72 (EG) und im Raum 338 (3. OG).

Opening hours

  • Monday

      09:30-12:30 Uhr

  • Wednesday

      09:30-12:30 Uhr

  • Friday

      09:30-12:30 Uhr

Public transportation

Payment options

  • Eine Bezahlung ist nicht vorgesehen

Service description

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
  • 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

The profession of "Lawyer (in german: Rechtsanwalt)" is regulated by the state in Germany. You may apply for the recognition of an equivalent professional qualification as a prerequisite for admission to the profession of lawyer in Germany if you
  • 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.
You can have this qualification recognised. With this recognition, you may work as a lawyer in Germany. If your training differs significantly from the requirements, you must first take an aptitude test.

Procedure
  1. Submit an application for the determination and recognition of an equivalent professional qualification from abroad.
  2. The Examinations Office confirms receipt of the application within one month and, if applicable, informs you if any documents or records are missing.
  3. The Examinations Office decides on the application no later than 4 months after receipt of all required documents.
  4. 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.

You can also access this service online

Online processing

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.

Forms

Fees

none

Legal basis

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

Notes on responsibility

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
Other examination offices
  • 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.
Note: The application for the recognition of an equivalent professional qualification can be submitted to any examination office within the Federal Republic of Germany that is competent to administer the aptitude test, but not to more than one at the same time.

Other options

Download

Download page as PDF

Related services

Further information about this

back to top of page