Becoming A Lawyer In Israel: Getting Licensed

Israel is a hub for international business and technology, attracting lawyers from across the globe. There are two primary ways for a foreigner to become a licensed lawyer in Israel: registering as a foreign lawyer or becoming an Israeli licensed lawyer.

Foreign lawyers who wish to practice their home country's law in Israel can become foreign lawyers in Israel. They must pass the Examination of Professional Ethics and prove basic knowledge of Hebrew. After meeting these requirements, they can apply to register as foreign lawyers in Israel and provide legal services to clients based on the foreign law they are licensed to practice.

Alternatively, foreign-trained lawyers can become fully licensed Israeli lawyers. This process is more extensive and involves passing the Israeli Law Exams, completing an 18-month legal internship, and taking the Certification Exam of the Israel Bar Association.

Both paths have their own requirements, and candidates need to meet language and educational standards to qualify.

Take the Hebrew Proficiency Exam

To become licensed to practice law in Israel, foreign lawyers must pass a Hebrew proficiency exam. This is because Hebrew is the official language of Israel, and all legal work will be conducted in Hebrew. While lawyers do not need to be fluent, they must be able to communicate and understand Hebrew to some extent. This requirement ensures that foreign lawyers can interact effectively in an environment where Hebrew is widely used.

The YAEL Test is a pencil-and-paper Hebrew proficiency test. It is automatically administered to anyone who takes the Psychometric Entrance Test in a language other than Hebrew. The YAEL Test can also be taken independently of the PET, but it is now only available in its computerized format.

It is advisable for candidates to take Hebrew language courses before attempting the exams.

Pass the Examination of Professional Ethics

To become a licensed lawyer in Israel, foreign attorneys must take and pass the Examination of Professional Ethics for foreign lawyers. This test ensures that lawyers meet ethical standards and understand the responsibilities involved in providing legal services in Israel.

The Examination of Professional Ethics is a crucial step in the process of becoming a registered foreign lawyer in Israel. Foreign lawyers who wish to practice their home country's law in Israel must pass this exam to ensure they abide by the ethical standards of the Israeli legal profession. The exam covers various aspects of professional conduct and responsibilities when offering legal services within the country.

While the specific format and content of the Examination of Professional Ethics may vary, it typically assesses the candidate's knowledge and understanding of ethical principles, such as client-lawyer relationships, conflicts of interest, legal malpractice, handling client funds, and marketing of legal services.

By passing the Examination of Professional Ethics, foreign lawyers demonstrate their commitment to upholding the ethical standards of the legal profession in Israel. This step is essential for registering with the Israeli Bar Association (IBA) and obtaining a license to practice law in the country.

In addition to passing the Examination of Professional Ethics, foreign lawyers must also prove their basic knowledge of the Hebrew language. This requirement ensures effective communication and interaction in Israel, where Hebrew is widely used.

Once foreign lawyers meet these requirements, they can proceed with the registration process and apply to provide legal services to clients based on the foreign law they are licensed to practice. It is important to note that foreign lawyers registered in Israel are permitted to offer legal advice based on their home country's law but cannot provide general Israeli legal services.

For foreign attorneys seeking to become fully licensed Israeli lawyers, the process involves additional steps, including passing the Israeli Law Exams, completing a legal internship, and taking the Certification Exam of the Israel Bar Association.

Pass the Israeli Law Exams

Passing the Israeli Law Exams is a crucial step in becoming a licensed lawyer in Israel. The Examination on the Laws of the State of Israel is designed to test a lawyer's knowledge of Israeli law and is a requirement for foreign-trained lawyers seeking to practice in the country. The exam covers eight different subjects, including:

• Property Law: This covers ownership rights, registration, land use, leases, and property transfers. Understanding property law is essential for handling real estate transactions and resolving disputes related to land ownership and tenant-landlord relationships.
• Criminal Law: This subject area focuses on criminal offenses, sentencing, and criminal procedures. It equips lawyers with the knowledge to defend clients facing criminal charges and navigate the criminal justice system.
• Civil Procedure and Professional Ethics: This part of the exam covers civil litigation procedures, court rules, and professional conduct standards. Lawyers need to understand the correct procedures for filing lawsuits, responding to motions, and adhering to ethical guidelines.
• Family and Inheritance Law: This subject covers marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance rights, and estate management. Lawyers dealing with family law cases need to be well-versed in these areas to advise and represent clients effectively.
• Commercial Law: Commercial Law is divided into two parts. Commercial Law 1 includes business structures, company law, and regulations on partnerships. Commercial Law 2 covers corporate finance, bankruptcy, and secured transactions. A strong understanding of commercial law is crucial for lawyers working with businesses and startups.
• Constitutional and Administrative Law: This subject covers the basic laws of Israel, government powers, and citizens' rights. It is essential for lawyers to understand the constitutional framework within which they operate and the rights they need to protect.
• Law of Obligations, Labor, and Social Security: This part of the exam covers contracts, torts, employment law, and social security rights. It is relevant for lawyers dealing with employment-related issues, labour disputes, and social security claims.

The exams are conducted in Hebrew, and applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the language. It is important to note that the exams are offered twice a year through the Israel Bar Association. Foreign-trained lawyers aiming to become fully licensed Israeli lawyers should be prepared for this comprehensive evaluation of their knowledge of Israeli law.

Complete a Legal Internship

To complete a legal internship in Israel, foreign-trained lawyers must undertake an 18-month period of specialisation. This can be done at either a public office or a private law firm. During this time, candidates will gain practical experience in Israeli law, working under a licensed Israeli attorney.

The internship is a crucial part of the process as it helps candidates understand the workings of the Israeli legal system in practice. They will learn the procedures involved in representing clients, drafting legal documents, and attending court hearings.

The internship period has been shortened to 12 months for those who started their internship from September 1, 2023, or will start before December 31, 2024. The Bar Association may further reduce the length of the internship for experienced foreign lawyers, but never to less than six months.

Foreign lawyers with at least two years of experience may begin their legal internship after passing the Hebrew Proficiency Exam, even before passing the Law of Israel Exams. A foreign lawyer who is fluent in Hebrew may be exempt from taking the Hebrew exam if they agree to take the Laws of Israel Exams in Hebrew and pass six out of the eight tests.

The Israel Bar Exam, which is the final examination an intern must complete following their internship, has been made more challenging in recent years. It now includes a written section that tests the examinee's ability to draft a Hebrew language court pleading, commercial contract, lease, or other legal documents.

Pass the Certification Exam of the Israel Bar Association

Passing the Certification Exam of the Israel Bar Association is the final step to becoming a fully licensed lawyer in Israel. Here is a detailed breakdown of the process:

Examination Format

The Israel Bar Exam is composed of three sections:

• A written section that tests the examinee's ability to draft legal documents such as a court pleading, commercial contract, or lease.
• A procedural law multiple-choice section.
• A substantive law multiple-choice section, which is an 'open-book' section where examinees are provided with a booklet of statutory law.

Preparation

The bar review company, Hamitmache, offers prep courses for the Israel Bar Exam. They offer different course lengths and options to purchase only the materials. Expect to pay around 2,500-3,000 NIS for a complete course.

Examination Tips

• Fluency in Hebrew is essential to passing the exam.
• The pass rate for Olim has dropped with the transition to the new exam format, so thorough preparation is crucial.
• Olim Chadashim (new immigrants) are entitled to additional time for each section of the exam.
• The exam is offered twice a year, in June and December. However, these time slots are subject to change.

Post-Examination

After passing the Certification Exam, individuals will be admitted to the Israel Bar Association and can begin practising law in Israel.

Frequently asked questions