The application for admission to the bar must be submitted to the bar association in whose district the admission is sought. Once admission has been granted, a law firm must be established and maintained in the district of this bar association.

Admission to the bar becomes effective with the delivery of a certificate issued by the bar association (§ 12 para. 1 BRAO). The certificate may only be handed over once the applicant has been sworn in and has provided proof that professional liability insurance has been taken out or has submitted a provisional cover note (section 12 (2) BRAO).

Upon admission, the lawyer becomes a member of the admitting bar association and may practice under the German professional title ”Rechtsanwältin” or ”Rechtsanwalt” (Section 12 (3) and (4) BRAO).

Compulsory membership of the pension fund arises at the same time as admission. The Bayerische Rechtsanwalts- und Steuerberaterversorgung automatically contacts the new members of the Bar Association and also sends the necessary application forms for exemption from compulsory insurance in the statutory pension scheme or for subsequent insurance in the pension scheme for the period of legal clerkship.