Initial training of lawyers in the European Union

General description

Is initial training offered, if yes is it compulsory?

Yes, initial training for trainee lawyers is compulsory.

Does initial training differentiate between categories of trainees?

The Czech Bar Association (CBA) organises only initial training for trainee lawyers registered in the Register of Trainee lawyers maintained by the CBE.

Which entities are responsible for organising initial training?

• a member of CBA Board of Directors in charge of training of lawyers and trainee lawyers
• the advisory body to the CBA Board of Directors in charge of training
• a department of CBA responsible for training of lawyers and trainee lawyers.

The advisory body prepares the concept of education and training of lawyers and trainee lawyers for the Board of Directors, proposes for approval to the Board of Directors the annual training programs for lawyers and trainee lawyers within the framework of the relevant legal and professional regulations and participates in the optimization of the educational system in the legal profession.

What is the statutory basis for initial training?

Section 38 para 3 Act No.: 85/1996 Coll., on the Legal Profession, as amended.

EN version: ACT (cak.cz)

Access to the initial training

Are there conditions for accessing the training?

Registration of a trainee lawyer in the Register of Trainee lawyers maintained by the CBA upon the concluded labour contract with a lawyer (law firm).

What is the main recruitment procedure? If it is competitive - who runs it?

There is no recruitment procedure.

Are there alternative access routes to the training?

-

Format and content of the initial training

What is the duration and time frames of the training?

Within a three-year practice period, a trainee lawyer attends training events organised mainly by the CBA (the practice period can be longer).

The trainee lawyer must attend all the compulsory training events designated by the CBA each year. The trainee lawyer must attend at least 3 days of optional training the trainee can choose which optional training events to attend).

The structure stipulated by the professional regulation needs to be followed – each year, the trainee lawyer attends different compulsory training events.

A two-day entrance seminar must be attended by trainee lawyers during the first year of the practice.

How is the training organised?

There is only one Bar in the Czech Republic, therefore, it is centralised.

Who are the trainers?

Professional trainers, full-time professionals (mainly lawyers) and other experts.

What is the content and objectives of the initial training?

The traineeship is composed of 18 seminars (half day-seminars – less than 6 hours) on Private and Public law, Criminal law, Professional law and Lawyer´s skills and a two-day entrance seminar.

Who designs the initial training programmes?

The advisory body to the CBA Board of Directors in charge of training prepares the concept of education and training of lawyers and trainee lawyers for the Board of Directors, proposes to the Board of Directors for approval the annual training programs for lawyers and trainee lawyers within the framework of the relevant legal and professional regulations.

What methodology is used for the training?

Mainly lectures, online trainings on platforms.

What practical elements of the training are applicable to the trainees?

It is up to the trainer to decide and designate tasks to the trainee lawyers during the training event.

How are trainees evaluated/assessed? How often and by whom?

It depends on a trainer how trainee lawyers are evaluated at the training event in question, if any evaluation is carried out. Evaluation of trainee lawyers is not compulsory and is not as such carried out by the CBA.

Trainee lawyers must submit their personal paper card for marking by the trainer of the training event they attended .

This personal paper card is to be handed over to the CBA before the trainee lawyer wants to sit for the Bar Examination.

Are there any training activities carried out in conjunction with other legal professionals? If yes: How does it work?

No.

What are the specificities regarding EU law training, linguistic training and European components of initial training, for example participation in CCBE or ELF activities?

None

How many trainees are accepted for training? Are the numbers of trainees adjusted annually and by who?

The number of trainee lawyers registered to the Register of trainee lawyers changes annually.

Termination of the initial training and qualification process

Does the initial training conclude with a final exam? How is it organised? Who is responsible for the exam?

No.

Is there a further recruitment procedure to become a lawyer upon completion of the initial training?

No.