In addition, persons not qualified to practice in their country of
origin but holding the foreign qualification required for access
to the profession may apply for recognition of this qualifica-
tion in Spain and subsequently register with the Spanish Bar
Association.
Persons who are not nationals of an EU or EEA Member State:
In order to become a member of a Spanish Bar Association,
these persons must first have their qualifications officially rec-
ognized and then apply for a dispensa legal de nacionalidad
(exemption on the grounds of nationality).
On the other hand, one who already holds a law degree from another
country should check with his or her University or with the Spanish
ministry of education whether his or her degree is automatically rec-
ognized by the European Union or by any other international agree-
ment as an equivalent degree. If so, the educational requirements
needed in order to becoming a lawyer in Spain are fulfilled. If the law
degree obtained in a foreign university is not automatically recognized
through international agreements as a Spanish equivalent, it is also
possible to apply with the Spanish ministry of education in order to
obtain the evaluation of the degree and subsequent recognition as
equivalent to a law degree earned in Spain. If the application is ap-
proved and the law degree is duly recognized as a Spanish equivalent,
the educational requirements for becoming a lawyer in Spain will then
be fulfilled.
Appliance
A person being in possession of a recognized law degree and meeting
all of the three prerequisites mentioned above can become a lawyer in
Spain by joining the Spanish Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados).
In order to do that, the candidate should find a local Bar Association,
preferably according to the place in which he or she will work and/or
live and apply. There is a full list of all the Colegios de Abogados
across Spain on the Consejo General de la Abogacia Espanola web-
site. That does not involve, however, restricting the practice of law in
that area since lawyers in Spain may freely practice law throughout