Though the process for becoming a lawyer in Spain may vary from the processes established for the practice of law in other countries, becoming a lawyer in Spain is rather straightforward and depends only on meeting a set of prerequisites, educational requirements and professional duties.

Make certain that you are a citizen of Spain or of one of the countries of the European Union.

Warrant that you are at least 18 years of age and are not mentally incapacitated.

Ensure that you do not have a prior criminal record.

Study and earn a law degree in Spain if you do not already have a law degree. This is typically five to six years of study.

Check with your university as well as the Spanish ministry of education if you are already in possession of a law degree from a foreign university in order to determine if the European Union or international agreements automatically recognise the degree you earned as equivalent to a Spanish law degree. If so, you fulfil the educational requirements to become a lawyer in Spain.

  • Though the process for becoming a lawyer in Spain may vary from the processes established for the practice of law in other countries, becoming a lawyer in Spain is rather straightforward and depends only on meeting a set of prerequisites, educational requirements and professional duties.
  • Check with your university as well as the Spanish ministry of education if you are already in possession of a law degree from a foreign university in order to determine if the European Union or international agreements automatically recognise the degree you earned as equivalent to a Spanish law degree.

Apply with the Spanish ministry of education to get your degree evaluated and recognised as equivalent to a law degree earned in Spain if you have already earned a law degree from a foreign university but it is not automatically recognised through international agreements as a Spanish equivalent. If your application is approved and your law degree is duly recognised as a Spanish equivalent, you then fulfil the educational requirements for becoming a lawyer in Spain.

  • Apply with the Spanish ministry of education to get your degree evaluated and recognised as equivalent to a law degree earned in Spain if you have already earned a law degree from a foreign university but it is not automatically recognised through international agreements as a Spanish equivalent.

Find a bar association in Spain local to where you intend to live and work as a lawyer (See Resources). However, this does not mean that you are restricted to practicing law in that area. Lawyers in Spain may practice law freely throughout Spain. They may also practice law in the European Union or in other countries as may be provided for by law.

Sign up with the bar association, pay the current fees, and agree to abide by the association’s ethics guidelines.

Contract insurance with a company that provides insurance policies for practicing lawyers in Spain.

Sign up with Spanish social security at the social security office nearest to where you intend to live and work as a lawyer in Spain.