Egzamin adwokacki

Overview

The egzamin adwokacki is the Polish bar exam for advocates (adwokaci). Passing it is one of the conditions for entry on the list of advocates kept by the regional bar councils. The exam is set out in the Law on the Bar (Prawo o adwokaturze) and is run by examination commissions appointed by the Minister of Justice, with the regional bar councils handling the administration.

This page is based on the consolidated text of the Law published in October 2024. Later amendments were issued in 2025 and 2026, so check the current text and the latest exam announcement before relying on any detail.

Who can apply

Most candidates sit the exam after completing the advocate traineeship (aplikacja adwokacka). The traineeship starts on 1 January each year and lasts 3 years, and a candidate needs the certificate confirming it was completed.

Some people may take the exam without the traineeship. The Law lists these groups:

• holders of a doctorate in law;

• people who passed the judge, prosecutor, notary or bailiff exam;

• people who worked for at least 4 years, within the 6 years before applying, in qualifying legal roles after finishing law studies, such as court referendary, judge's or prosecutor's assistant, legal work in an advocate's or legal adviser's office, or legal work in a public authority;

• people who completed the legislative traineeship and then worked for at least 4 years in drafting legislation;

• legal counsel at the Solicitors General's Office of the Republic of Poland (radca Prokuratorii Generalnej);

• people who passed the exam but did not apply for entry on the list of advocates within the allowed period.

All candidates must also meet the basic conditions for becoming an advocate: good character, full civil and public rights, and a Polish law degree at master level (or a foreign one recognised in Poland).

Exam pattern

The exam has five written parts. In each part the candidate prepares a legal document or opinion based on case files or a set of facts written for the exam. If the candidate decides there are no grounds to file the document, they write a legal opinion instead.

Candidates may use texts of legislation, commentaries and case law, but may not carry devices for sending or receiving information. The Minister of Justice appoints a team before each exam to prepare the tasks.

Marking and results

Each of parts 1 to 4 is marked independently by two examiners, one named by the Minister of Justice and one by the National Bar Council. Part 5 is marked independently by two examiners chosen by the commission chair, again one from each side. Each examiner gives a mark and a written reason.

Marks run from 2 to 6: 6 (celująca), 5 (bardzo dobra), 4 (dobra), 3 (dostateczna) are passes, and 2 (niedostateczna) is a fail. The final mark for a part is the average of the examiners' marks. An average of 3.00 or higher is a pass and an average of 2.00 or 2.50 is a fail.

If at least two partial marks from different parts are failing but the averages would still give a pass, the commission does not set the final marks. It sends the papers to the second-instance commission at the Minister of Justice, which decides.

To pass the exam, the candidate must get a passing mark in every part. The commission decides the result by resolution and delivers it to the candidate.

After the exam

A candidate can appeal the result to the second-instance commission at the Minister of Justice within 14 days of receiving the resolution. A decision of that commission can be challenged by a complaint to an administrative court.

A candidate who fails may sit later exams, but must take the whole exam again.

A passing result entitles the candidate to apply for entry on the list of advocates within 10 years of receiving the result resolution. Entry is decided by the regional bar council. Trainees are removed from the trainee list one year after the end date shown on the traineeship certificate, unless the council extends this.

Important dates

The exam is held once a year, on a date the Minister of Justice sets in agreement with the National Bar Council. The Minister, together with the National Bar Council, publishes an announcement in the Public Information Bulletin at least 90 days before the exam. It gives the application deadline, the exam commissions and their addresses, the date of each part, and the exam fee. Check that announcement for the current year's dates.

Fees

The exam fee is paid to the state budget and is set each year in the announcement. By law it cannot be higher than the minimum monthly wage. If the application is left unprocessed, admission is refused, or the candidate withdraws in writing at least 14 days before the written exam, two thirds of the fee is refunded on written request.

How to apply

Trainees apply to the examination commission covering the regional bar council where they did the traineeship. People who sit the exam without the traineeship apply to the commission they choose, and attach proof that they qualify. All applicants attach the original proof of paying the exam fee.

Employees are entitled to 30 calendar days of paid leave at 80 percent of pay to prepare for the exam, usable once, and to paid time off to attend it.