The abogacía access master and national exam

Key rules

• Exam frequency: The national exam is held twice a year.
• Language: The exam is in Spanish only, so plan your language level early.
• Practicum: The practicum of at least 30 credits is compulsory and in person.
• Call details: The latest call sets the exact dates, fee, number of questions and pass mark.

Exam dates, fee, format details, pass rates and master fees change, so confirm them in the latest call and with each university.

The short version

To work as an abogado in Spain, you need two things: the access master, then the national exam. This is the toughest gate on the route. Plan for roughly two years of study before you can sit the exam.

Who can enter the master

You need a Spanish law degree (Grado en Derecho), or a foreign law degree recognised for this purpose. If your degree is foreign, sort out its recognition before you apply, because universities will ask for proof.

How the master is built

• It is an official master of 60 to 90 credits.
• It normally takes 1.5 to 2 academic years.
• It includes a compulsory practicum of at least 30 credits, supervised by a tutor, in a law firm, court or similar.
• The practicum is in person, even if the rest of your course is online.

Where to study

Public and private universities offer the master, and so do accredited law schools (escuelas de práctica jurídica). Examples include Complutense, Universidad de Barcelona, Universidad de Navarra, Universidad Carlos III and Comillas. UNIR, UDIMA and VIU offer online or blended formats.

Public universities cost much less than private ones. Fees depend on the university and the number of credits, so ask each one for its current price.

The national exam

The exam is held twice a year, usually one session in spring and one in autumn. It is run by the Ministry of Justice with the Ministry of Universities. Only graduates who have completed the master can sit it.

• Language: Spanish only.
• Questions: multiple choice with four options. Wrong answers are penalised, so do not guess blindly.
• Length: typically about 135 questions. Each call sets the exact number, the timing and the scoring.
• Structure: a common part and a specialty part.
• Subjects: civil, criminal, administrative, labour, commercial and procedural law, plus professional ethics and the rules of the legal profession.
• Pass mark: a minimum score, set in each call.

The fee is a public fee set in each call. It is modest, in the tens of euros.

Pass rates

Pass rates change from session to session. In some sessions most candidates pass, and in others a substantial minority fail. The Ministry of Justice publishes the results of each call, so check the latest figures there before you decide how much to prepare.

What to do next

Follow the checklist below. Before you commit, read the latest exam call for the dates, fee and rules.

Checklist

• Confirm you hold a Spanish law degree or a foreign law degree recognised for this purpose before you apply to the master.

• Choose a university or law school that offers the access master, and compare public and private fees, since public universities cost much less.

• Plan for a master of 60 to 90 credits, which normally takes 1.5 to 2 academic years.

• Arrange the compulsory in-person practicum of at least 30 credits in a law firm, court or similar, even if you study online.

• Read the latest exam call for the number of questions, timing, scoring rules and minimum pass mark.

• Study civil, criminal, administrative, labour, commercial and procedural law, plus professional ethics, in Spanish.

• Practise multiple-choice questions with four options, remembering that wrong answers are penalised.

• Pick one of the two yearly sessions, usually spring or autumn, and check the date and fee in the latest call.

• Look up the published results of recent calls to see how many candidates passed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take the access master online?

Yes, several universities offer the access master online or in a blended format, but the practicum is always in person. The practicum is at least 30 ECTS credits in a law firm, court or similar, with a tutor supervising you.

Is the national abogacía exam in English?

No, the national abogacía exam is in Spanish only. It is multiple-choice with four options per question and penalties for wrong answers, so practise legal Spanish before you sit it.

How much does the access master cost?

The cost depends on the university and the number of credits, and public universities cost much less than private ones. Compare fees directly with each university before you apply.

Where can I find the pass rates for the national exam?

The Ministry of Justice publishes the results of each call, and pass rates have varied from one session to the next. Look at the latest published figures to judge how hard the exam is.