American Bar

	The American Bar official website Since 1918

Country Name

Legal descriptions

DENMARK

The term for a lawyer in Denmark is Advokat. Apart from lawyers acting as sole practitioners or in a grouping of lawyers, only professional corporations of lawyers in the form of public limited, private limited or limited partnership companies may practice law. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from a Danish university, followed by three years of training as an authorised assistant attorney with an Advokat or in a relevant, legal activity; additionally, a successful completion of a theoretical basic education and an examination in matters of special importance to the profession of lawyer, as well as a passed practical test in litigation is required. Advocates are certified by the Minister of Justice. Every Advokat may appear before the City Courts. After the successful pleading of two cases before the High Court, an Advokat may appear before the two High Courts and the Maritime and Commercial Court in Copenhagen. After five more years of practice before the High Court, the Advokat may then appear before the Supreme Court. The Danish court structure also includes the legal systems of the Faroe Islands and Greenland. Any EU lawyer may appear before Danish courts cf. the directives 98/5/EF and 2006/123/EF, while lawyers from outside of the EU may obtain a Danish permission before they can practice in Denmark.

The functions of the notary public are performed by the City Courts. The official language of the courts is Danish.