Lawyer
A lawyer at the tribunal, 19th c.
Occupation
Names	Attorney at law
Type	profession
Activity sectors	court finance
Description
Education required	see professional requirements
Fields of employment	Law
Related jobs	Judge
Average salary	see earnings and compensation

An admission to practice law, also called admission to the bar, is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. Becoming a lawyer is a widely varied process around the world. Common to all jurisdictions are requirements of age and competence; some jurisdictions also require citizenship.^{[citation needed]} However, the most varied requirements are those surrounding the preparation for the license, whether it includes obtaining a law degree, passing an exam, or serving in an apprenticeship. In English, admission is also^[1] called a law license. Basic requirements are as follows:

Contents 1 Asia and Pacific Islands 1.1 China 1.2 Fiji 1.3 Hong Kong 1.4 India 1.5 Israel 1.6 Japan 1.7 Korea (ROK) 1.8 Kazakhstan 1.9 Malaysia 1.10 New Zealand 1.11 Singapore 1.12 Sri Lanka 2 Europe 2.1 Belgium 2.2 Denmark 2.3 France 2.4 Finland 2.5 Germany 2.6 Greece 2.7 Ireland 2.8 Italy 2.9 Moldova 2.10 Netherlands 2.11 Poland 2.12 Russia 2.13 Spain 2.14 Sweden 2.15 Switzerland 2.16 United Kingdom 2.16.1 England and Wales 2.16.2 Scotland 3 The Americas 3.1 Canada 3.2 Mexico 3.3 United States of America 3.4 Argentina 3.5 Brazil 3.6 Chile 3.7 Peru 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Asia and Pacific Islands

[edit] China

In the People's Republic of China, one must first obtain an undergraduate law degree (a B.A. , which is a four-year course of study), pass the National Judicial Examination, and complete a one year apprenticeship.^[2]

[edit] Fiji

Fiji requires a Bachelor of Law degree (four years of study), although that requirement may be waived upon completion of another bachelor's degree and/or sufficient legal experience.^[3]

[edit] Hong Kong

Hong Kong makes a distinction between barristers and solicitors. Admission to both professions requires a law degree (either the LL.B., which requires four years of study, or the Juris Doctor, which lasts two years) and the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (which requires nine months). However, the apprenticeship to become a barrister is only one year, while a solicitor must apprentice for two years.^[4]

[edit] India

India requires membership in one of its state bar associations, all of which require an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which is three years of study).^[5]

[edit] Israel

Israel requires an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which is a three and a half year program), a one year apprenticeship, and the passing of the bar Examination.^[6]

[edit] Japan

Japan requires an undergraduate degree in any field (which requires four years of study), a Juris Doctor (which lasts three years), the passing of the state bar exam, and a two year apprenticeship which incorporates additional coursework.^[7]

[edit] Korea (ROK)

Korean attorneys must complete an undergraduate degree in any subject, obtain a master of law degree (법무석사 과정, a three year program), complete courses at the Judicial Research and Training Institute, and pass the bar examination.^[8]

[edit] Kazakhstan

Lawyers in Kazakhstan must complete an undergraduate law degree and pass the state examination.^[9]

[edit] Malaysia

Malaysia requires attorneys to be members of one of the two regional bar associations, which requires the completion of a Bachelor of Laws degree (an LL.B., which requires four years of study) or a Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B. Juris, which requires three years of study), a Certificate in Legal Practice, and a nine month apprenticeship.^[10]

[edit] New Zealand

New Zealand requires an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which lasts four years), and completion of the Professional Legal Studies Course (which lasts five months).^[11]

[edit] Singapore

Singapore requires an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which requires four years, or 3 years for a second entry LL.B.), completion of the Postgraduate Practice Law Course (which lasts 5 months), and the completion of a six month apprenticeship.^[12]

[edit] Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka requires an attorney to be admitted and enrolled as an Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.^{[citation needed]} One must pass the required law exams at the Sri Lanka Law College, and then spend one year in apprenticeship to a practicing attorney.^{[citation needed]} To sit for the exams, students must graduate from the Sri Lanka Law College, or be qualified by gaining a LL.B. from a local or foreign university.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Europe

Among European Union members, the Diplomas Directive (Directive no. 89/48/EEC) states that those who have obtained a license or diploma in one state can pursue the profession in another state. Thus, it is not difficult for a law degree in one jurisdiction to be used as a qualifying degree in another jurisdiction within the European Union.

[edit] Belgium

In Belgium, a prospective lawyer ("advocaat" in Dutch, "avocat" in French, "Rechtsanwalt" in German) must complete a Bachelor in Law (which requires three years of study), a Master in Law (which requires two years of study), a three year apprenticeship, the CAPA course of study, and must pass the final bar exam.^[13]

[edit] Denmark

In Denmark, to use the title of advokat one must complete an LL.B. (three years of study) and a LL.M. (which awards the academic title of Candidata Juris, and requires two years of study), followed by a three year apprenticeship, one year as an assistant lawyer, and an exam which has a moot court element.^[14]

[edit] France

To become a French lawyer (avocat), one must obtain an undergraduate degree (licence, three years), a Masters of Laws (diplôme de maîtrise en droit, two years), complete the exam to enter l'Ecole de Formation du Barreau which provides a course of eighteen months and results in the award of the requisite Certificat d'aptitude à la profession d'avocat (CAPA).^[15]

[edit] Finland

Anyone can practice law in Finland, not just lawyers. However, only those licensed by the bar association may use the title asianajaja, which requires the completion of a Bachelor of Laws (or oikeusnotaari, which takes three years), a Master of Laws (or oikeustieteen maisteri), which takes two years, a four year apprenticeship, and the passing of a bar exam which also requires the demonstration of practical skills.^[16]

[edit] Germany

In Germany, a lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) must be a member of a local bar association. The requirements for membership include an undergraduate law degree (Rechtswissenschaft or Diplom-Jurist, which requires about four and a half years and includes the First State Exam), a two year apprenticeship, and the passing of the Juristisches Staatsexamen (Second State Exam).^[17]

[edit] Greece

Greece requires that a lawyer (δικηγόρος) be a member of a local bar association. Requirements include an undergraduate law degree, which lasts at least four years, an eighteen month apprenticeship, and the passing of the bar.

[edit] Ireland

Following the English tradition, Ireland has both barristers and solicitors. To become a solicitor, one must complete an undergraduate degree or pass the Preliminary Examination. One must then pass the Final Examination, complete a two year apprenticeship, and finish the concurrent Professional Practice Courses. To become a barrister, one must complete an undergraduate law degree (BCL, which lasts three years), obtain the Degree of Barrister-at-Law from the Honorable Society of King's Inns, and finish a one year pupillage (known as Devilling).^[18]

[edit] Italy

Italy mandates membership in an Italian bar association, which requires completion of an undergraduate law degree (Laurea in Scienze Giuridiche, three years), a graduate law degree (Laurea Specialistica in Giurisprudenza, a two years program which confers the title of Dottore Magistrale in Giurisprudenza), a two year apprenticeship, and passing of the professional exam.^[19]

[edit] Moldova

Moldova requires an undergraduate law degree and passage of the state examination.^[20]

[edit] Netherlands

In the Netherlands, to be a licensed lawyer (Advocaat), one must complete an undergraduate law degree (Bacheloropleiding or LL.B, which is three years of study), the master of law degree (doctorandus in law before implementation of the Bologna Process and conferring the meester title, which is a one year LL.M. program), and a three year apprenticeship.^[21]

[edit] Poland

In Poland, a lawyer (adwokat or radca prawny) must complete a magister's degree in law (which lasts five years) and be admitted to a bar association (The Polish Bar Council or National Chamber of Legal Advisors). There are several ways to gain admission to the bar, including: three years of training followed by the bar exam; five years of legal professional experience followed by the bar exam; a Ph.D. in law followed by either the bar exam or 3 years of legal professional experience; or possession of high academic qualifications in legal sciences (e.g., habilitated doctor or professor). Once admitted to the bar association of one occupation, a lawyer can move to another occupation with little hassle.^[22][23]

[edit] Russia

It is not necessary to have a license to practice law in Russia as a legal consultant, but only advocates are permitted to appear in court (with the exception of those appointed to represent an individual person). In Russia, an advocate must obtain an undergraduate degree in law (four years) and a Specialist in Law or Jurist degree (one year), then pass oral examinations (although top graduates are exempt from portions of the exam).^[24]

[edit] Spain

In Spain, a lawyer uses the title of Licenciado (or Lic.) or Abogado, and must be a member of a local bar association, such as the bar association of Madrid. Membership requirements for all bar associations are the same. The only requirement is a graduate law degree, the Titulo de Licenciado en Derecho, which requires five years of study.^[25]

[edit] Sweden

In Sweden, membership in the bar association is required to use the title of advokat or lawyer, but not to practice law. Membership in the bar association requires an LL.M. degree (jur. kandidatexamen, which lasts four and a half years); five years of legal work, at least three of which must be in a law office (either an established firm or one's own firm), and the passing of an oral examination.^[26]

[edit] Switzerland

In Switzerland, lawyers must complete a Bachelor of Law (B Law, which lasts three years), a one year apprenticeship, and pass the bar examination.^[27]

[edit] United Kingdom

For the purposes of private international law, the United Kingdom is divided into three distinct legal jurisdictions:

• English law in England and Wales
• Northern Ireland law in Northern Ireland
• Scots law in Scotland

As such, admission to practice law requires different qualifications in each country of the UK.

[edit] England and Wales

In England and Wales, one does not have to be formally admitted to the bar to practice law, but admission is required to use the title of solicitor or barrister. For both the solicitor and barrister professions, one must obtain an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which typically lasts three years), or complete the Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law (which lasts one year after completing an undergraduate degree). Potential solicitors are then required to complete two years of apprenticeship with the simultaneous Legal Practice Course and Professional Skills Course, while potential barristers must usually complete the one year Bar Vocational Course followed by a year of vocational training known as a pupillage.^[28]

[edit] Scotland

Scotland requires an undergraduate law degree (LL.B., which lasts four years if taken as a first degree (with honours) three if taken as an Ordinary Degree and two years if taken as a graduate entry degree), a Diploma in Legal Practice (one year), and completion of a two year apprenticeship together with the Professional Competence Course (which lasts seven days).^[29]

[edit] The Americas

In U.S. English, admission to the bar is also commonly known as obtaining one's "law license" ("licence" in Canadian English). Examples from the U.S. include: "Respondent used his law license to commit crimes [...]. Accordingly, we conclude that respondent should be disbarred" (NYCourts.gov, "Appellate Division Decisions of November 15, 2002"); "...ordered to surrender his law license and resign from the practice of law" (USDOJ.gov, "EOIR Announces Disciplinary Actions Against 11 Immigration Practitioners", 2001); and "A North Carolina judge who lost his law license based on accusations he took money [...]"[5] and "Scooter Libby Loses Law License"[6] (American Bar Association Journal, both in 2008, from more than 300 instances in the ABA Journal).

Examples from Canadian medias include: "Disbarred lawyer [...] says he'll fight to get back his law licence."[7] (The Brantford Expositor) and "Convicted murderer wants law licence back"[8] (CBC.ca).</ref> called a law license.

[edit] Canada

Canadian applicants to the bar must obtain admission to one of the local Law Societies in the various jurisdictions of Canada. As an example, the Law Society of British Columbia requires that a student complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline (B.A. of four years), an undergraduate law degree (LL.B. and/or B.C.L., three to four years) or Juris Doctor (three years), a nine month apprenticeship referred to as "articling," a Professional Legal Training Course (ten weeks), and the bar exam for that jurisdiction.^[30]

[edit] Mexico

Lawyers in Mexico are required to complete a law degree (Licenciado en Derecho, a five year program), and obtain a practice certificate (cedula professional) from the Bureau of Professions of the Ministry of Education (Direction General de Profesiones), which officially certifies the license by virtue of the law degree.^[31]

[edit] United States of America

Lawyers in the United States must be admitted by each U.S. jurisdiction in which legal advice is rendered (a U.S. state, commonwealth or territory), which generally requires that they complete an undergraduate degree in any discipline (usually four years), obtain a Juris Doctor degree (three years) and pass a bar exam. However, the requirements vary between jurisdictions, and there are exceptions to each of the general requirements in some.^[32] In a handful of U.S. states, one may become an attorney (a so-called country lawyer) by simply "reading law" and passing the bar examination, without having to attend law school first (although very few people actually become lawyers that way).^[33]

[edit] Argentina

In Argentina, prospective lawyers must complete an undergraduate law degree (Bachilleres Universitarios en Derecho, which lasts four years), and a professional certification program (Certificado de Orientación Profesional, a one year program).^[34]

[edit] Brazil

Brazil requires an undergraduate law degree (Diploma, which lasts five years) and the passing of the bar examination.^[35]

[edit] Chile

Chile requires a law degree (Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas, five years) and a six month apprenticeship.^[36]

[edit] Peru

Lawyers (Abogados) in Peru must be members of a local bar association, which requires an undergraduate law degree (Bachiller en Derecho, a four year program) and a diploma (Titulo de Abogado), the latter requiring one year of apprenticeship and passing of the bar exam.^[37]

[edit] See also

• Bar (law)
• Lawyer
• Practice of law
• Disbarment

[edit] References