Luxembourg's bar exam has been reformed

Any of those hoping to become lawyers, judges, or notaries in Luxembourg have a further hurdle to complete once they have finished their studies. Law-hopefuls have to complete the Luxembourg version of the bar exam, the 'complementary Luxembourgish law course' (CCDL).

According to the head of the Luxembourg bar association, François Prum, the rationale for this course is for students to learn the specificities of Luxembourgish law, as many complete their studies abroad.

However the content of the CCDL had grown larger and become more complex over time; the non-reformed course included 18 separate subjects worth 240 hours of tuition. And the curriculum had been losing relevance to actually practising law as a lawyer.

The reform has cut both the study material and hours in half. Previously the curriculum included a mandatory common basis and optional courses. Now, the CCDL consists of three subjects students can choose from to fulfill the compulsory number of hours. To be noted that the required language abilities under the non-reformed course have not changed.

Prum emphasised that the reform was not initiated by the Minister of justice, Felix Braz; it had been a request by the bar association.