Are you going to work as a lawyer in Norway? You may or may not be able to do it, and this article brings you everything you must know.
You can practice law in Norway as a foreign national, but the way you have to follow is up to your nationality. There are strict rules and regulations, and the process is a bit hard to follow.
A foreign national who wants to practice law in Norway needs recognition from the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice. It is called “Tilsynsrådet for advokatvirksomhet” in the Norwegian language.
How to immigrate to Norway as a lawyer?
The way to immigrate to Norway as a lawyer is like this;
EU/EEA nationals who are residing in EU/EEA
In case you are a citizen of EU/EEA countries and you are residing in these two unions, there are two options for you:
1. Register as an EU/EEA lawyer
You have the right to register as a lawyer in Norway. But you have to use “the professional title attained in your member state of domicile.” you need these documents to complete the process:
A declaration form
It must be from your home country and state where you have a license to practice law in your home country. It must also clarify that there are no pending charges against you. Reverb that the declaration can not be older than 3 months ago.
You should also submit the documents of the Membership of the state.
You must have your documents translated into English or Norwegian.
2. Apply for a Norwegian license to practice as a lawyer
The EU/EEA nationals can apply for a Norwegian license to practice as a lawyer. Applicants have to submit the following documents to do so:
A declaration from a competent authority that proves you have a lawyer’s license. It must clarify that no charges are pending against you. Again, it can not be older than three months ago. A verified document that proves you are a citizen of an EU/EEA state is needed.
A clean record certificate from the Norwegian police is needed as well. You can get it in your home country in the E/EEA stat. It must be received through the Supervisory Council or send it through the digital post system called “Digipost” or “e-book”. Again, it may not be older than three months ago.
Then, applicants must complete one of the below options:
1. Pass the aptitude test.
It gets called (“egnethetsprøven”) in Norwegian. You can take the test by the faculty of law at the University of Oslo. The test is made of a language test that evaluates your language proficiency skills and Norwegian law and legal subjects.
But before you take the test, it is mandatory to receive a declaration from The Supervisory Council. It must state that you fulfill the formal requirements to take the test. Applicants must send a valid lawyer license from an EU/EEA state they live in.
2. Practiced registered lawyer in Norway
You don’t have to go through the last stage and pass the test if you have documents that prove you have practiced as a registered EU/EEA lawyer in Norway for at least three years. It must also state that you have mainly practiced Norwegian law.
Have a law degree but don’t have a professional title of lawyer from an EU/EEA member state
If this is the case for you, you can work as a trainee lawyer in Norway. You must be an EU/EEA citizen, and you must have completed a law degree in an EU/EEA member state to get a Norwegian license as a lawyer.
In case the Supervisory Council recognizes recognized your legal education equal to the Norwegian law degree, you are eligible to start working as a trainee. To do so, you must find a Norwegian lawyer who is willing to hire you, needs your service, and apply on your behalf for authorization as a trainee lawyer.
When you work for at least two years as a trainee lawyer in Norway, you must complete a course in litigation, legal proceedings, and ethics. Then you can apply for a Norwegian license as a lawyer.
Have a professional title of lawyer from a country outside the EU/EEA
In this case, you can apply for permission to practice as a foreign lawyer in Norway. However, you have only permission to practice international law and the law of your home country. You do not have permission to practice Norwegian law.
These groups have to use their original names and professional title in their home country.
Submit the following documents to the Supervisory Council as well:
A declaration from
It must be from a competent authority in your home country and confirm that you have a license to practice law in your home state.
Passport
An ID document or a passport that states you are a citizen of your home country is needed.
Permission to work
You must get permission from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) to work and stay in Norway.
Clean record certificate
A clean record certificate from the Norwegian police is needed as well. You can get it in your home country in the E/EEA stat. It must be received through the Supervisory Council or send it through the digital post system called “Digipost” or “e-book.” Again, it may not be older than three months ago.
Employment or registry
Provide an employment contract with a Norwegian employer or company or the documents of a business enterprise in Norway.
You hold a law degree from outside the EU/EEA
If you have a law degree from outside of the E/EAA, you can not immigrate to Norway as a lawyer or trainee lawyer in Norway.
Famous law first in Norway.
This section makes you familiar with some of the famous and large law firms in Norway. You can find more information about them by visiting their website or asking questions on platforms like Quora,
Also, you can check the comments or people’s opinions on social media like LinkedIn. It can give you a perspective of the companies and the working atmosphere.
Also, you might be able to find people working in these companies. You can get familiar with their resume, work experience, qualifications, and the way they have followed. You might be able to reach them and ask for advice.
- Aabø-Evensen & Co Advokatfirma
- Advokatfirmaet CLP DA
- ADVOKATFIRMAET GJESSINGREIMERS AS
- Advokatfirma DLA Piper Norway DA
- Advokatfirmaet Føyen AS
- Advokatfirmaet Schjodt AS
- Advokatfirmaet Schjødt AS
What are the benefits of living in Norway?
You have searched and found this page. So, you already know there are so many benefits to living in Norway as a lawyer. But this section brings you some of the good aspects of moving to Norway as a lawyer and living in the country.
High-standard accommodation facilities.
The Norwegians take credit for the high quality of houses. You might have to pay a bit higher price for them but it’s completely worth it. The first high price will make it up as you won’t have to pay for the maintenance, renovation, etc.
The landlords are friendly and they help you settle into the new house.
Nature is always amazing to enjoy.
You will never get bored or get enough of nature in Norway. Wherever you turn, there is a new landscape and view to enjoy. The point is that it all changes into a new miracle with the change of the season. Every season has its beauty and while you want to get used to it, you’ll get surprised by the new season.
Winters can be harsh but as harsh as Jon Snow has to suffer from the cold beyond the wall. Nature is even more beautiful in winter and you will enjoy it too.
Are you into sports? There is always an opportunity for you to enjoy the type of sport you like in Norway. It’s heaven for the fans of winter sports.
Norwegians care about the environment.
You may know Norway as an oil producer in Norway but the country has put the nature and environment as its priority. They are among the first to adopt electric cars and ban fossil fuels for vehicles.
There is no air pollution and the quality of life is amazingly high there. There is mutual cooperation between the government and people to improve the quality of life and preserve nature.
A safe place to live on this earth.
The crime rate is low in Norway and you will have no worries living there. You can send your children out and have no concerns.
Norway enjoys a high level of safety and they are just developing in their fields. They are just using the income from crude oil export and working in the infrastructure.
Work-life balance has become a reality here.
Your colleague asks you to complete this project on his behalf as he is up to taking his daughter to dance class. It’s quite normal and people put family first.
The work-life balance is well implemented in Norway and you can enjoy a life without work stress.
Adam Grant is a famous organizational psychologist who researches finding a purpose and meaning in life. He wants to create a work-life balance and has a Podcast with TED. He can find the result of his findings well in Norway.
There is no busy and hectic schedule like in the US. People do not think about work after working hours and take care of their family and their personal stuff.
National healthcare system
You will get a high standard of healthcare in Norway covered by the national healthcare system. You do not pay to visit doctors or dentists.
The quality is high that you find an equivalent in a few developed countries.
The strong economy in Europe.
The oil industry has brought a good source of income for Norway. The government has spent it well and built great infrastructure. They have put public welfare on their priority list.
Hydropower, minerals, fishery, and forests are the other sections that are active and produce income.
You might have heard about the dip in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but it soon started to recover in 2021. The state pension fund is currently worth $1.3 trillion as well.
Not so many people and a crowded area.
Forget overpopulation, busy stress, and a crowded subway system. There are only 5.408 million people living there by 2021. They live mostly in the south which is warmer.
The small population lets you live freely and there are no overcrowded cities.
If you enjoy small areas with a small pace of life, then Norway is definitely your option.
English is spoken in Norway.
Do you have difficulty learning new languages? Well, you will have much less trouble in Norway as English is common and people speak it widely.
Children learn to speak English in school and they are raised with English-speaking skills. You will have fewer problems fitting into this community, finding new friends, and dealing with people.
The point is that when people find out you can speak English, they want to practice your English skills with you. So you can become sort of a teacher as well. This is a great way to find new friends.
But, you would better begin learning Norwegian after spending some time and when the language is not that strange to you. Learning the local language will make things easier and you will talk fluently in local areas.
How to find a job in Norway as a lawyer?
You can use various ways to find a job in Norway as a lawyer. But first, determine if you are eligible to work as a lawyer in Norway or not. Read the above section to get familiar with the procedure and eligibility principles.
The first way to find a job is to look for one through the websites that advertise job positions in Norway. This is a list of the websites that help you find a job in Norway.
You can look for a position as a lawyer in them.
- Arbeidsplassen.nav.no
- Ec.europa.eu
- Gulesider
- Finn.no
- Gulesider (a private recruitment agency)
- Indeed Norway
- Tinkerlist
- Jobs in Oslo
- The Local
- Finn Jobs
- Jobbnorge
- Adecco
- Career Builder
- Jobbsafari
- Career Builder
- AngelList
- CV Jobs Norway
- Jobisland
- Manpower
- Learn4Good
- Dittarbeid.
- Jobbforalle
- Nav.no
The second way is to visit Norway and hold face-to-face interviews. The EU countries can visit Norway without a visa and stay for some time. So it is with the non-Eu countries that are among the visa waiver countries. You can find the list of them in the menu of the Visa Library article in the Norway section.
Can I immigrate to Norway as a foreign lawyer?
Whether you can immigrate to Norway as a foreign lawyer is up to your nationality and the palace you have finished your education.
You’d better go through the above section to know what the rules and regulations are for foreign people who want to move to Norway as a lawyer.
If the rules and regulations allow you to do so, then it’s up to your hard work and determination to manage the process.
Is it easy to immigrate to Norway as a lawyer?
It might not be as hard as you think. But it’s up to the eligibility principles and weather you are qualified or not. Your situation must allow you to immigrate to Norway as a lawyer.
Then, it comes to your hard work and the amount of effort you put into the procedure.
You would better get advice from someone who has passed this way once and get professional advice. The above section also helps you a lot.
Let’s sum up…
This article brought you how a foreign person can become a lawyer in Norway. It introduced the ways and options for different nationalities.
If you have questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer rhythm.
Frequently asked questions about moving to Norway as a lawyer.
Yes, read the article to know how you can move by your nationality.
No, they can not work as a lawyer in Norway.
Yes, you must be fluent as there is a test that evaluates your language proficiency.
- Published by
- Visa Library
- February 8, 2023