Apply for registration in the Legal Services Register with professional qualifications from EU and EEA countries and Switzerland

You must be entitled to provide a legal service in the areas of debt collection, pension advice or legal advice under foreign law in an EU or EEA state or Switzerland.
They must demonstrate special theoretical and practical expertise.

• They can provide theoretical expertise in particular by confirming from the competent authority of the country of origin that there is an authorisation to practise the profession there. Depending on whether or not the profession is regulated in the country of origin, further evidence may be required, in particular on the duration of the profession.
• You can provide proof of practical expertise by submitting a certificate of completion of an adaptation period of at least 6 months.
• You must prove your personal suitability and reliability.
• Taking out professional indemnity insurance
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If you have acquired a European professional qualification (in accordance with Section 12 (3) sentence 4 RDG) in another EU member state or state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, you can also prove your theoretical expertise (taking into account your existing professional qualification) by means of an adaptation period.

In the cases of the European professional qualification (see above, § 12 para.3 sentence 4 RDG), you must prove by means of suitable documents, in particular the certificate from a foreign authority, that the requirements of § 12 para.3 sentence 4 RDG are met. In addition, separate proof of theoretical expertise is not required.

Forms available: Yes

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance required: No

• Application form
• Summary of the vocational training course and the previous professional practice of the person to be registered
• Documents demonstrating the theoretical and practical expertise of the person to be registered
• If applicable, job references
• Proof of professional indemnity insurance for the person to be registered
• Certificate of good conduct
• Statement as to whether insolvency proceedings are pending or whether an entry in the list of debtors has been made in the last three years prior to the filing of the application
• If we are talking about an application in the field of debt collection services, then the following are additionally required:
  • Information according to § 150 paragraph 5 of the Industrial Code
  • Presentation of the content of the intended activities
• In addition, if a qualified person is indicated:

Documents showing that the qualified person is permanently employed in the company, is independent of instructions and authorized to issue instructions and has an authorization to represent the company externally

Costs are incurred in accordance with No. 1110 of the List of Costs (Annex) to the Judicial Administration Costs Ordinance Act (JVKostG).

• List of costs (annex) of the Judicial Administration Costs Act (JVKostG)

You can apply for entry in the Legal Services Register in writing or electronically to the competent registration authority using the forms provided.

• Access the necessary application forms online in the registration portal.
• Fill out the forms completely. Pay particular attention to:
  • to the indication of the area or sub-area for which the registration is to take place,
  • in the case of registration for legal services in a foreign law: to the indication of the foreign law to which the registration is to relate.
• You submit the application forms together with the other documents to the competent registration authority.
• As a result of the application review, you will receive a written notification as to whether the registration has taken place.
• The costs will be charged after the check has been carried out. You will receive a separate invoice.

There is no deadline.

Applications for registration must generally be processed within 3 months.

Certificates and proofs that are not issued in German may be required to submit a translation.

• § 12 Legal Services Act (RDG)
• § 2 Legal Services Ordinance (RDG)
• § 13 Legal Services Act (RDG)
• § 10 Legal Services Act (RDG)
• § 3 Legal Services Ordinance (RDV)
• § 1 Act on the Activities of European Patent Attorneys in Germany (EuPAG)

If the competent authority does not decide in accordance with the application or revokes a registration (§ 14 RDG), an objection can be lodged with the competent authority within one month or an immediate action can be brought before the administrative court.

An action against a negative notice of objection can also be brought before the administrative court.

The registration authority shall not rule on disputes between registered legal service providers and recipients or between legal service providers.

• Justice Portal of the Federal Government and the Länder (rechtsdienstleistungsregister.de)