Only 25% of Future Lawyers Pass State Unified Qualification Exam
In the summer session, 57 out of 231 students (25%) passed the state unified lawyer professional qualification exam.
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According to the Ministry of Justice, 231 students took the state unified lawyer professional qualification exam in the summer session of 2026 – 146 for the first time and 85 repeating. Only 57 students (25%) passed.
The exam covered five areas of law: legal theory, philosophy and history of Latvian law; criminal law and procedure; civil law, civil procedure and commercial law; constitutional, administrative law and procedure; and international and European Union law.
Minister of Justice Edvards Smiltēns (AS) emphasized that the unified exam is more than a final test – it ensures uniform professional standards across all universities training lawyers and strengthens the rule of law in Latvia.
Students from six universities participated: Turība University of Business, University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Rēzekne Academy, Riga Stradiņš University, and Daugavpils University.
Results can be appealed within one month. The next exam will be held in the winter session of 2027. For comparison, in the winter session of 2025/2026, 151 students took the exam, and 58 passed.
