Menu
Expat.com

Any American Lawyers Recently move to Germany?

Last activity 15 July 2021 by beppi

Post new topic

Guest7856

Hello! I am an American who will be moving to Germany in the next few years with my German wife. I was curious to see if any American lawyers had made the jump and what challenges they faced? Thank you in advance!

TominStuttgart

Not a lawyer so curious if one will respond. One of course needs to be licensed to practice law in Germany, which will mean knowing both German law and the language on the highest level.

But like when the subject of languages comes up here; speaking fluent English is often an asset - but in addition to German rather than an alternative. The same with law or tax accounting. If one speaks German and is certified to legally work in Germany then they might find a position where their additional certifications and language skills can be used for international clients.

beppi

I knew a foreign lawyer (not USA citizen, but also non-EU). She had no chance to get her legal degree or certification recognised as equivalent to a German one - for that, basically, attending a university course in law all over again (and in German language) is required. But she did find a job in a (niche) field: An international financial institution at Frankfurt (Germany's financial centre), who needed an expert in international law. As commuting from Stuttgart (where she lived and her husband worked) was impractical (2 hours each way!), she gave up the job quickly. She said there are no suitable jobs elsewhere.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Germany

All of Germany's guide articles