how to become a lawyer in the germany

How to qualify as a lawyer in Germany

• Introduction. The path to becoming a lawyer in Germany can be a long process that easily takes seven years or more.
• Education. Qualifying as a lawyer in Germany is a two-step system: First, a future lawyer must study at a university in order to obtain the first degree in law (Erste ...
• Second State Exam. ...
• Summary. ...
• Useful Links. ...

Full Answer

How to work as a lawyer in Germany?

There are several ways of working as a lawyer in Germany: as a self-employed lawyer with your own office, in a partnership with one or more partners or as an employee in a law firm.

How hard is it to get into law school in Germany?

the German admission system is very strict and it applies to every lawyer, regardless of the nationality, including European citizens.

Is it easy to become a lawyer in Europe?

Despite the fact that each country has different requirements, anyone who wants to become a lawyer needs to pass the Bar Exam, in Europe as well as in rest of world. Speaking of Europe, some of the easiest countries to become a doctor are on this continent, as well.

How to become a lawyer with a foreign law degree?

Master of Laws (LL.M.) Rechtswissenschaft für im Ausland graduierte Juristinnen und Juristen – LL.M. for lawyers with a foreign law degree. The course duration is for 12 months and intake is done as per the Winter/Spring and Summer is the intake period. The universities listed in the table are the top universities to pursue legal studies.

How many years does it take to become a lawyer in Germany?

In order to actually practice law in Germany, one has to complete a two-year legal training (aptly described as an “apprenticeship” model) before being eligible to take the German bar exam. To conclude, an average German law student spends seven to 11 years to complete studies and to be admitted to the bar.

Can a foreigner become a lawyer in Germany?

Foreign lawyers from EU member states can work in private practice as a foreign lawyer in Germany. After practising in Germany for three years, an EU lawyer can apply to be admitted as a German lawyer (Directive 98/5/EC on qualifications of lawyers (Qualification of Lawyers Directive)).

Is there demand for lawyers in Germany?

In part, this competitive recruitment market is because fewer people are qualifying as lawyers in Germany. More than 10,300 people qualified as lawyers in Germany in 2000, but by 2017 that had fallen to a little more than 7,500, according to most recent data available from the German Federal Office of Justice.

Is law hard in Germany?

So of those that set out to study law, about 20% quit during study, about 40% flunk the first exam (if you didn't pass the first time, it's hard to pass the repeat), and of the remaining 40% who make it to the second exam, 2/3 pass, equalling about 26% of all those who start to study.

Is law a good career in Germany?

Studying law in Germany provides plenty of chances to advance career-wise, especially for those who plan on practicing law in Germany. Legal professions typically pay well in Germany. For example, the average salary for a lawyer in Germany is somewhere between €71,000 and €130,000 per year.

Is law school free in Germany?

Is law school free in Germany? Many public universities in Germany offer quality education to citizens and international students free. So, if you enroll in a law program in public law school in Germany, you can study law for free in Germany.

Are lawyers rich in Germany?

Lawyer Salaries in Germany The national average salary for a Lawyer is €80,000 in Germany.

Are lawyers paid well in Germany?

A person working as a Lawyer in Germany typically earns around 7,270 EUR per month. Salaries range from 3,350 EUR (lowest) to 11,600 EUR (highest). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Lawyer salaries vary drastically based on experience, skills, gender, or location.

Can I study law in English in Germany?

The best English-taught law schools in Germany Based on data from the QS Rankings by TopUniversities, the following are the best universities in Germany that offer Law programmes taught in English: Humboldt University Berlin. LMU Munich. Heidelberg University.

Is there a bar exam in Germany?

Qualifying as a lawyer in Germany is a two-step system. There are two bar exams. At first a prospective lawyer studies for the first degree in law (Erste Juristische Prüfung) which takes about five years. Passed studies, he or she may sit for the first bar (e.g. erste Staatsexamen).

Is Germany a good country to study law?

For those looking for an LL. M., Germany is a great place in which to forge or further a law career. It's Europe's largest economy and holds significant economic and political influence among EU countries, and beyond.

How do I become an international lawyer in Germany?

If you have completed a law degree in a member country of the European Union or the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, you can complete a two-year legal internship (Referendariat) in Germany – and then apply to practise as a lawyer after successfully completing the Second State Examination.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in Germany?

If you have completed a law degree in a member country of the European Union or the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, you can complete a two-year legal internship (Referendariat) in Germany – and then apply to practise as a lawyer after successfully completing the Second State Examination.

What is the role of a lawyer?

Lawyers are strongly involved in advice and analysis work long before presenting their plea before the court. They have to process and promptly submit numerous documents. Especially in large international law firms, younger lawyers initially perform duties similar to those of clerks before they receive their own cases.

Does Germany have a defence lawyer?

In Germany, every defendant has the right to a defence lawyer. The lawyer has an obligation to represent the interests of his or her client. In a defence case before a criminal court, for example, this means achieving the mildest possible verdict or, at best, an acquittal – even if the lawyer is aware of the client’s guilt.

How many years of practical training is required to practice law in Germany?

The first is a theoretical exam, from which, if you pass it, you go on to two years of practical training in various branches of the legal system.

How long does it take to become a lawyer?

The cases are written in the style of legal opinions. The second requires 2 years of pra. Continue Reading. Becoming a lawyer is rather easy, but it takes time and dedication.

How long does it take to get a criminal law degree?

The cases are written in the style of legal opinions. The second requires 2 years of practical training at courts, administration and law firms with the main focus on law firms.

Can a German lawyer speak Dutch?

A German lawyer speaking Dutch as a foreign language, for example, would not be able to practice law in the Netherlands off the bat ( not being familiar with Dutch law), and would also not have the necessary formal qualifications to be allowed to do so.

Can a lawyer work in another state?

Pursuant to the Treaty of Rome, It is complicated. In theory, a lawyer from one EU state could work in another state, but in practice, the member states can impose restrictions (say, familiarity with local laws, to practice with a local lawyers, etc.), which make it VERY hard. This article is pretty comprehensive.

Is it easy to become a lawyer?

Becoming a lawyer is rather easy, but it takes time and dedication. Becoming a successful lawyer is a completely different story. Doing something like the guys in John Grisham's books is highly unlikely in Germany.

Is the Staatsexamen in Germany dangerous?

Without them, passing the Staatsexamen is almost guarantee d to be impossible. Studying law in Germany is a byzantine, dangerous proposition even for Germans.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in Germany?

Study Law in Germany – Key Facts & Benefits. To become a professional lawyer in Germany, you must undertake two examinations and study law curriculum for 6 years. After 4 years of undergraduation, students must take the first state examination.

How much does an attorney make in Germany?

A. An attorney, on an average, earns EUR 16,300 per month in Germany . The salary of lawyers in Germany largely depends on the experience and the highest level of qualifications they have obtained in the field of law.

What is the law degree at Humboldt University?

The Law Faculty of Humboldt University of Berlin offers a one-year full-time graduate degree programme in International Dispute Resolution (IDR). The university keeps a strong emphasis on international arbitration. Master’s programme is open to law graduates from jurisdiction around the world and is taught exclusively in English. The intake for this programme takes place in October and the tuition fees are EUR 9,000.

What is the largest law school in Germany?

The Faculty of Law at Ludwig Maximilian University is one of the largest in Germany. It offers a wide range of law courses along with the option to qualify for international and European business law after the Staatsexamen (First State Examination) or an equivalent foreign degree.

What are the specialised courts in Germany?

The specialised courts, on the other hand, include Administrative law courts (Verwaltungsgerichte), Labor law courts (Arbeitsgerichte), Social law courts (Sozialgerichte), Financial courts (Finanzgerichte), and Constitutional law courts (Bundesverfassungsgericht). In this article, you will get familiar with the benefits of studying law in Germany, ...

What are the German courts?

The ordinary courts in Germany hear matters related to civil, criminal, family and marriage laws and include Local Courts (Amtsgerichte), Regional Courts (Landgericht), and Higher Regional Courts (Oberlandesgerichte). The Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof) is the highest court in the German ordinary jurisdiction system.

What is Germany's government?

Germany is officially referred to as the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) and holds political and economical influence on all other EU countries. Germany’s democratic government enforces a system of law based on the principles described in the ‘Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany’.

A law degree can smooth the path to practice and help students gain admission to the bar

Becoming a lawyer in an overseas country is not easy, but it can be well worth the reward. In mainland Europe, the legal services markets are diverse and dynamic, with a wide range of career opportunities on offer.

Practicing law in the Netherlands

The main route to practicing law in the Netherlands starts with a three-year undergraduate law degree, followed by a doctorate degree or master of law, then a legal apprenticeship for another three years.

Practicing law in Spain

To access the legal profession in Spain, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a university in addition to a master’s degree, such as an LL.M. Then, you will need to carry out a supervised internship in a law firm, or the legal department of a company in Spain. You must also pass an aptitude test, which Spain’s Ministry of Justice runs annually.

Practicing law in Germany

In order to practice law in Germany, lawyers need to go through a two-stage qualification process.

Practicing law in France

The standard route to practicing law in France is studying at law school and taking an examination.

How can I become an international lawyer?

It could be said that the most direct route into becoming an international lawyer is by becoming qualified in a second (or third, etc.) jurisdiction as a lawyer, and thus being able to practise law and advise clients in more than one jurisdiction and from the perspective of more than one set of laws. The potential gain is clear: businesses are constantly looking for advisors that can take a more international perspective on their commercial goals, and dual-qualified lawyers are well-placed to provide this service. Law firms, too, benefit from offering their clients a multi-jurisdictional service, ensuring their clients do not need to look elsewhere for advice on other jurisdictions.

What are the challenges of becoming an international lawyer?

One of the challenges to grapple with as a budding international lawyer is the ongoing reform of the profession as a whole all over the world. The nation with far and away the most lawyers, the US, has recently seen the first liberalising of the legal profession, with further discussion ongoing, while another important jurisdiction, the UK, has undergone (and is still undergoing) considerable reforms, such as alternative business structures (ABS) for ownership of law firms. And the US has also seen its share of innovative web-based legal services providers, such as LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer, looking to take advantage of technology and market forces. A wider revolution is gradually taking place in the legal profession.

What is legal education?

Legal education: Learning not just how to think and work like a lawyer, but also how the legal services market is changing, and developing new skills that are relevant for the market today and tomorrow.

How long does it take to become a lawyer in China?

After that, they have to go to the law school for another 6 months. Finally, they have to finish the one-year internship (6 months anywhere in France and 6 months in the law firm). On the other hand, in China, after a three-year law program at University, one needs at least two years of experience working in the legal field before taking an ...

How long does it take to get a law license?

Usually, the competition of law school takes four to five years. To obtain a license for practicing law in this country, a student has to produce a thesis or to pass a final oral or written exam as well as to perform social service tasks voluntarily.

Is it easy to become a lawyer?

It is very hard to define an “easy way” (if there even is such a thing) for becoming a lawyer. Despite the fact that each country has different requirements, anyone who wants to become a lawyer needs to pass the Bar Exam, in Europe as well as in rest of world. Speaking of Europe, some of the easiest countries to become a doctor are on this ...

Do lawyers get paid?

Although lawyers do their jobs for salary, it definitely isn’t easy to balance between professional needs and moral ethics. Of course, there are various fields of law where lawyers can show their knowledge and competence, and some of them are well paid.

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