• You want to work permanently as a lawyer in Germany.
• You have a professional qualification as a lawyer from an EU, EEA or Swiss state.
• You have not completed more than half of your minimum training period in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland or your training certificates do not originate from one of these countries? Then you must also have worked as a lawyer for at least 3 years in the country in which you are recognized.

Established European lawyer

You can also work as a lawyer without being admitted to the bar. If you are admitted as a lawyer in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland, you can be admitted to a German bar association as an "established European lawyer". You may then work in Germany under the professional title of your country of origin.

If the professional title in your country of origin is "Rechtsanwältin oder Rechtsanwalt", you must also state the name of the professional organization in your country of origin. You may not use the professional title "European lawyer".

After 3 years of working in the field of German law as a member of the Bar Association, you can apply for admission to the bar. You apply for admission to the bar in a different procedure. The bar associations will inform you.

Freedom to provide services

Do you only want to offer services as a lawyer in Germany occasionally and for a short time? Then you may not need recognition. The following applies to the temporary occasional provision of services:

• You must be established in another state of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.
• You may only use the professional title of the country in which you are established.
• You must meet certain requirements. The bar associations will inform you about the exact requirements.
  

Procedure for ethnic German repatriates

As a late repatriate, you can go through the recognition procedure either in accordance with the law mentioned here or in accordance with the Federal Expellees Act. You can decide for yourself. The judicial examination offices will advise you on which procedure is right for you.