Recognition of a foreign legal qualification

Have you completed a law degree in an EU member state and now want to complete your legal training in Germany? Then you must first have an equivalence assessment carried out for your university degree.

Successful completion of the equivalence test establishes the equivalence of your university degree with the compulsory state examination for the first legal examination. This enables you to be admitted to the legal training service.

Hessian Ministry of Justice

Judicial Examination Office I

Zeil 42

60313 Frankfurt am Main

• Your diploma,
• your diplomas,
• examination certificates,
• other certificates of qualification
• Proof of relevant professional experience

You must submit the documents in the original or as a certified copy.

You can submit the application in any form. Application forms are not available.

You must have a law degree from a member state of the European Union.

§ Section 112a (1) of the German Judges Act

Contradiction

You must apply for the equivalence assessment in writing.

Enclose a certified copy or the original of your degree certificate and other certificates with this application.

Once the application has been received, the equivalence assessment will take place.

If it is determined that your degree is fully equivalent, a corresponding decision will be issued.

With this decision, you can apply for admission to the preparatory legal service.

The application procedure is then based on the application procedure for applicants who have obtained their university degree in Germany.

If equivalence is not established or only partially established, you will also receive notification of this. In order to be admitted to the legal training service in this case, you must take an aptitude test. You must apply in writing to take the aptitude test.

Once you have passed the aptitude test, you can apply for admission to the preparatory legal service. The application procedure is then based on the application procedure for applicants who have obtained their university degree in Germany.

None.

The processing time for the equivalence check is approximately 3 months (if the documents are complete).

The aptitude test procedure takes approximately 6 months from the date of application.

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Further information: