Lawyer in Switzerland

Lawyers in Switzerland are not obligated to register with the Cantonal Bar Association in the region where they practise. All Cantonal Bar Associations are submitted to the Swiss Bar Association. Many lawyers join however the Swiss Bar Association for its benefits. The profession of lawyer in Switzerland is regulated in every canton. Lawyers in Switzerland benefit from freedom of movement between cantons, without the necessity of obtaining a different license. This is available for European lawyers too. 

Admission

A highschool graduate can enter one of the nine Swiss law schools and obtain a bachelor’s degree in law. This degree provides the right for a Swiss attorney to practise in enterprises or public service and also to train as a lawyer. It is not compulsory, but it is recommended that at this point, a lawyer in Switzerland continues to study for two more years in order to obtain a master’s degree in law. Now, the Swiss attorney is qualified to start his professional career and he can be admitted to the Swiss Bar Association. The highest degree in academic law is Ph.D., but it is not a mandatory diploma for a lawyer in Switzerland. Admission to the Bar Association requires a period of apprentice in one of the cantons, usually for two years, under the supervision of a qualified lawyer in Switzerland. After that, if the candidate passes the bar exam, he is registered with the Swiss Bar Association.

Forms of practice

Lawyers in Switzerland can practise individually or they can be hired in small law firms in Switzerland. There are not many large law firms in Switzerland. Most law firms in Switzerland are in Geneva and Zurich, but other cities like Basel or Bern are also preferred by attorneys in Switzerland, who want to practise either by themselves or in Swiss law firms.

Activities

A Swiss lawyer can specialize in one or several areas. Some legal aspects are different from a canton to another, but in general, the Swiss law is applied in the same way everywhere. Legal activities involve company formation, divorce, labour law, bank formation, crimes, debt collection, contracts, real estate planning, investments, trading, immigration, intellectual property, taxes or social security. Lawyers in Switzerland must pay attention to the development of legislation and follow up the changes in order to be prepared any time they need to appear in front of the court.

BridgeWest offers company registration in Switzerland, including virtual office and other related services.