Entry in the lawyers’ register

The applicant must be a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia or any other EU Member State.

A lawyer who is from a country which is not an EU Member State and has the right to pursue the profession of lawyer in a country which is not an EU Member State may pursue the profession of lawyer only if the applicant meets the condition of reciprocity and the following conditions:

• a lawyer from another country is entered in the register of foreign lawyers who may pursue the profession of lawyer in the Republic of Slovenia under the professional title of lawyer; with all the rights and obligations pertaining to the pursuit of the profession of lawyer if he or she meets the following conditions:
  • he or she is legally competent,
  • has an active knowledge of the Slovenian language,
  • has the equipment and premises required for the pursuit of the profession of lawyer, and
  • has passed the examination on the knowledge of the legal system of the Republic of Slovenia.

Evidence

The applicant shall submit a photocopy of a valid personal identity document which proves his/her nationality, or a certificate of nationality issued pursuant to the regulations of the Member State of origin.

Education:

• The applicant must acquire the professional title of univerzitetni diplomirani pravnik or diplomirani pravnik (Bachelor of Laws) (first degree of the Bologna programme) and magister prava (Master of Laws) (second degree of the Bologna programme) or
• magister prava on the basis of the long non-structured masters' study programme or
• completed equivalent education abroad recognised in accordance with the act which regulates the recognition and assessment of education.

Work experience:

The applicant must have at least four years' experience as a Bachelor of Laws, at least one year of which, after he or she  passed the state legal exam, should be with a lawyer, with a law firm, court, State Prosecutor's Office, State Attorney's Office or notary's office, with a permanent employment relationship concluded with an employment contract on a full-time basis.

 

Evidence

For education acquired in Slovenia:

• diploma or certificate – original, certified or uncertified copy with the possibility of viewing the original.

For education acquired in the EU:

• diploma, certificate, other proofs of formal education acquired in the EU – original or certified copy, with attached certified translation into Slovenian;
• evidence of the content and course of training, which state the duration of the study programme and syllabus of the study programme, demonstrating the number of hours or credit points of individual subjects – original or certified copy with attached certified translation into Slovenian.

For years of service:

• Full-time employment contract – copy.

The state legal examination may be taken by an individual who meets the following general conditions:

1. is a national of an EU Member State and has active knowledge of the Slovenian language;
2. is legally competent and in appropriate health;
3. has acquired the following professional titles in the Republic of Slovenia  or has completed an equivalent education abroad which is recognised in accordance with the act  regulating the recognition and assessment of education:

• professional titles of univerzitetni diplomirani pravnik (Bachelor of Laws),
• diplomirani pravnik (Bachelor of Laws) and magister prava (Master of Laws),
• and magister prava on the basis of the long non-structured masters' study programme.

Information, conditions and rules for applicants who carried out their probationary practice at a court.

Information, conditions and rules for applicants who did not carry out their probationary practice at a court.

An applicant who has passed the professional examination to be appointed a title or professional examination for public administration is exempt in the state legal examination from being tested on constitutional organisation, organisation of justice and public administration, foundations of the legal arrangement of the European Union.

An applicant who has passed the professional examination for administrative procedure is exempt in the state legal examination from being tested on administrative law, administrative procedure and administrative disputes.

An applicant who has passed the professional examination on the basis of the Zakon o pripravništvu, strokovnih izpitih in izpopolnjevanju strokovne izobrazbe delavcev v državni upravi in pravosodju will be exempt in the state legal examination from being tested on:

• administrative law, administrative procedure and administrative disputes,
• constitutional organisation, organisation of justice and public administration, but will not be exempt from being tested on the foundations of the legal arrangement of the European Union.

Prior to being entered in the lawyers' register, the applicant must pass an exmination of his/her knowledge of the act which regulates attorneyship, lawyers' tariffs and the Attorneys' Professional Ethics Code with the Slovenian Bar Association.

Legal basis

• Attorneys Act (ZOdv)
• Attorneys’ Tariff
• Code of Conduct for Lawyers
• Act Amending the Attorneys Act (ZOdv-C)

Suitable premises and equipment must include at least:

• a room for the lawyer, a waiting room (which may also be the room for the secretary), telephone, fax, computer with an e-mail address, and toilet.

The lawyer must submit a lease contract or contract of ownership.

Legal basis

• Rules on the criteria and procedure for determining the suitability of premises and equipment required to practice

Prior to making a decision on the entry in the register of lawyers, legal assistants and interns, the Board of Lawyers of the Association requires an opinion from the Executive Committee of the Regional Assembly of Attorneys in the territory of which the applicant lives and works as to whether the applicant can be trusted to pursue the profession of lawyer.

The condition is also verified with a certificate from the criminal records of the Ministry of Justice and public Administration of the Republic of Slovenia.

The applicant is not trustworthy to pursue the profession of lawyer if he or she has been convicted of a criminal offence due to which he or she is morally unworthy to pursue the profession of lawyer, or if he or she acts in such a way that it may be justifiably concluded that he or she will not fairly and conscientiously pursue the profession of lawyer.

The full legal competence is acquired by an adult natural person when he or she reaches the age of 18, by marrying prior to coming of age, and, with a court decision, also a minor who becomes a parent.