Anyone who wants to sit the First State Examination (Erstes Staatsexamen) first needs to be admitted to it. The procedure is set by state law, and the differences between the German states are considerable. This guide uses Bavaria as its example, where the state examination office (Landesjustizprüfungsamt) runs the compulsory subject examination. It explains what to watch for regarding deadlines, documents and the procedure.
Short answer: In Bavaria, registration for the First Legal State Examination (Erste Juristische Staatsprüfung) is possible only online. A registration applies only to the next date. From date 2026/2 onwards, the registration deadline ends four months before the examination begins. Participation is binding once the admission notice has been issued. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Admission follows the state law of the relevant examination office.
- In Bavaria, registration is possible only online.
- A registration applies only to the next examination date.
- If your university examination is complete, you upload the certificate of completion.
- Anyone who has definitively failed the university examination can no longer be admitted.
- Once you receive the admission notice, your participation is binding.
Which deadlines apply to registration?
The registration deadline is where most registrations go wrong. According to the information sheet of the Bavarian state examination office, a registration applies only to the next date, under section 26(1) sentence 2 of the Bavarian Legal Training and Examination Regulations (JAPO). From date 2026/2 onwards, the deadline ends four months before the start of the examination. The document carries no publication date, so you should check the current version on the examination office’s website.
| Registration | Deadline per information sheet | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Regular date | Four months before the examination begins (from date 2026/2) | Registration applies only to the next date |
| Free attempt | At the latest in the eighth semester, with generally uninterrupted study | After an unsuccessful free attempt, by the third working day after receiving the notice |
| Repetition | Four months before the start (from date 2026/2) | No time limit is set for the repeat attempt |
| Grade improvement | Four months before the start (from date 2026/2) | A fee of 350 euros is payable before registration |
The table shows the Bavarian values. Other states apply other cut-off dates, so read the table as a model for the questions you should clarify.
Which documents do you need when you register?
Bavarian registration does not require proof of partial achievements in the university examination. If your university examination is complete, you can upload the certificate of completion. If you took the university examination outside Bavaria, you send the certificate by post, as the original or a certified copy.
The information sheet does not list every document. The complete list appears under the heading “Anmeldung zur Prüfung” on the examination office’s website, and you should check it before you submit. Other states may impose different requirements, so the list of the authority you register with always applies.
How does the admission procedure work?
After registration, the examination office checks your details and decides on admission. Once the admission notice is issued, your participation is binding. Withdrawal is possible only under the rules of the examination regulations, in Bavaria under sections 9 and 10 JAPO. The summons to the written examination is issued at least one week beforehand.
If you need to withdraw or are considering a medical certificate, read the guide on withdrawal from a state examination, medical certificate, deadline and consequences (in German). It shows which proofs are typically required without adopting the rules of one particular state.
Free attempt, repetition or grade improvement: which fits you?
Registration also decides which option you use. The free attempt is tied to the deadline in the eighth semester. If it fails, you register for the next regular date, by the third working day after receiving the notice. The guide on the free attempt in the state examination (in German) explains how the free attempt counts.
According to the information sheet, a grade improvement is possible only at the immediately following or the next but one date, under section 15(1) JAPO. The fee is 350 euros, payable before registration. If you only want to improve a grade, weigh this fee against the benefit before you register.
What to check before you submit
A short checklist before you submit is worthwhile. Check the deadline for the specific date, the form of the registration and the completeness of your documents. Pay particular attention to the office you register with, because several examination offices can be responsible for different sections. Keep every confirmation and every notice, so you can later show what you submitted and when.
An error in registration often cannot be corrected once the deadline has passed. A question to the examination office early is therefore better than a correction late. This applies especially if your university examination was completed abroad or in another state.
How to fit registration into your planning
Registration does more than complete a form, because it fixes the period before the examination. Start with a backward calculation from the registration deadline. Work out when your university examination must be complete and when the certificate should be in your hands.
Assumption: your university examination ends in the summer and you want to sit the next regular date. In that case, plan the certificate and the registration so that you meet the four-month deadline with a margin. A buffer of several weeks protects you against delays in issuing the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still register after the deadline has passed?
According to the information sheet, the registration deadline ends four months before the examination begins. Registering for that date is not foreseen after that point. For exceptions, contact the examination office.
Does my registration also apply to later dates?
No. A registration applies only to the next date. For later dates you register again.
What if I come from another state?
Then the requirements of the state where you take the examination apply. The Bavarian example does not replace information from the examination office of your state. Certificates from outside Bavaria must be submitted as originals or certified copies.
Do I have to prove partial achievements from the university examination?
Not according to the Bavarian information sheet. Proof of partial achievements is not required at registration. A completed university examination is documented with the certificate.
What to do now
- Find out which state examination office is responsible for you and download the current registration documents.
- Note the registration deadline for your next date and enter it in your calendar with a buffer.
- Upload the certificate of completion, or send it by post if you completed the examination outside Bavaria.
- Wait for the admission notice, because your participation is binding only once you have it.
- Clarify the free attempt and grade improvement separately before you decide.
Related guides
- Staatsexamen und Referendariat: Reformen, Fristen und Regeln im Überblick (in German)
- Freiversuch im Staatsexamen: Was zählt und welche Fristen gelten (in German)
- Rücktritt von der Staatsprüfung: Attest, Frist und Folgen (in German)
- Staatsexamen wiederholen: Wie viele Versuche du hast (in German)
Sources: Information on the First Legal State Examination, Bavarian state examination office (German), undated, with dates 2026/1 and 2026/2, retrieved November 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
