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]

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]

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]

India

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

However with effect from December 2010 all fresh law graduates or those who have already
cleared their law graduation but have not yet enrolled with the bar council must clear a bar
examination to be entitled to practice before courts or tribunals in India [6]

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]

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]

Jordan

Jordan has a developed and restricted rules for admission to practice law, It requires and
Academic and practical exams for enrollment in the Bar Association. The probationer must
hold a Bachelor degree or equivalent and to have a clear history in the police’s records.

The Bar Association requires a minimum two years of training under supervision. The Bar
grants the probationer special permission to appear in front some of the courts.

After two years of the practical training, the probationer submits a written request to be
enrolled in the written exams that the Bar held 4 times year. If he mastered the exam within
(15/25) then the probationer will be eligible to admit to the verbal exams by the legal
committee elected from judges, Professors and senior lawyers. If he/she passed the verbal
exam, then it comes to essay stage. Each probationer must write in legal subject and
discussed before a committee from senior lawyers which if he/she passed it will lead the
probationer to swear the oath before the Minister of Justice. Usually the process takes not
less that two and a half and above to accomplish the Bar Association’s requirement to
practice law.

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]

Kazakhstan

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

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]

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]

Pakistan

Pakistan does not require any specific qualification to be a lawyer Per Se, any person who is
learned in the law can act as legal advisors, it is fairly common for professionals such as
accountants or bankers to give advise on the law relating to their field. Almost all persons
practicing as lawyers however do have a law degree.

To enjoy rights of audience in the Courts however (to be an "Advocate"), a prospective

lawyer must obtain a Qualifying Law Degree which is approved by the Pakistan Bar Council.
After that, he or she must undertake a 6 month period of training under a senior lawyer
(called Pupillage or Apprenticeship) at the conclusion of which, the Bar Council will grant him
or her rights of audience in the lower courts, meaning all courts except the High Court and
Supreme Court. He she will earn rights of audience in the Superior Courts after a further two
(High Court) and 10 (Supreme Court) respectively.

Persons qualified as Barristers in England and Wales are directly admitted to the High Court
practice.

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 Practical Law Course (which
lasts 5 months), and the completion of a six month apprenticeship.[12]

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.

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.

Belgium
In Belgium, a prospective lawyer ("advocaat" in Dutch, "avocat"/"avocate" in French) 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]

Czech Republic
A person must meet the following conditions in order to be admitted to practice law in
the Czech republic[14]:

full capacity

Master degree in law acquired at a Czech law school or anologous education acquired at a
foreign university, if such an education is officially acknowledged as equivalent by an
internetional treaty, by which the Czech republic is bound, or if a particular enactment
acknowledges such a foreign education, or if it is acknowledged due to its content and
extent from the point of view of knowledge and skill as sufficient for practicing law by the
Advocacy Enactment

at least three years of legal apprenticeship

personal integrity (absence of conviction for deliberate crime)

absence of disciplinary punishment of prohibition of law practice (if a person was already a
law practicioner)

absence of being striken from the list of law practicioners because of personal bacruptcy

absence of labour engagement or officiary engagement, except of engagement:

to the Bar Association or to similar organisation in other EU state

to a law practicioner or to a legal personality established in order to provide legal services

to a University as a lecturer

as a scientific worker of Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

passing the bar exam

taking the pledge

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.[15]

France
To become a French lawyer an "avocat"(male)or "avocate"(female), 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).[16]

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.[17]

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).[18]

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.

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 or LL.B. which last four years) or the
Kings Inns Diploma in Legal Studies which lasts two 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).[19]

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.[20]

Moldova
Moldova requires an undergraduate law degree and passage of the state examination.[21]

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.[22]

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.[23][24]

Russia
It is not necessary to have a license to practice law in Russia as a legal consultant, but only
the members of the Russian bar associations (advocates) are permitted to appear in court
on criminal matters. 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).[25]

Spain
In Spain, a lawyer uses the title of Licenciado/Abogado(male) or
Licenciada/Abogada(female), 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.[26]

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.[27]

Switzerland
In Switzerland, lawyers must complete a Bachelor of Law (BLaw, which lasts 3 years), a
Master of Law (MLaw, which lasts three terms), a one year to two years apprenticeship
(depending on the Canton), and pass the bar examination.[28]

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.

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 the Legal Practice Course which lasts 1 year, once the Legal
Practice Course has been completed the potential solicitor is required to complete a two
year apprenticeship which is called a training contract, during the training contract the
trainee solicitor has to complete a Professional Skills Course, while potential barristers must
usually complete the one year Bar Professional Training Course (formally known as the Bar
Vocational Course) followed by a year of vocational training known as a pupillage.[29]

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).[30]

North America
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.[31]

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.[32]

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.[33] 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).[34]

South America
Argentina

In Argentina, prospective lawyers must complete an undergraduate law degree (Abogado,

which lasts five to six years depending on the University), and then become a member of
one of the jurisdictional associations.[35]

Brazil

Brazil requires an undergraduate law degree (Diploma, which lasts five years) and the
passing of the bar examination.[36]
Chile

Chile requires a law degree (Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas, five years) and a six month
apprenticeship.[37]

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.[38