Pravosudni ispit study guide
Pravosudni ispit · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Croatian bar examination (Pravosudni ispit) is the professional qualification that allows a lawyer to practise independently in Croatia - as an attorney (odvjetnik), and for related judicial and public-law roles where the relevant regulations require it. It is taken by law graduates who have completed the prescribed period of practical training and is assessed in both written and oral form across the core legal disciplines: civil and civil procedure, criminal and criminal procedure, constitutional and administrative law, labour and social security law, commercial and company law, family and inheritance law, legal ethics, EU and international law, and practical legal writing. The Pravosudni ispit study guide has 9 sections and about 2,730 words.
01Civil Law and Civil Procedure: Core Concepts, Traps, and a Working Rule
Civil law governs relations between private persons: legal capacity, contract, tort (delict), property, and the law of obligations. A candidate must be fluent in the elements of a valid contract (capacity, consent free of defects, lawful and possible object, and form where prescribed), the distinction between void and voidable transactions, and the rules on representation and mandate.
361 words, about 2 min02Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure: Elements, Defences, and Stage Traps
The candidate must master the structure of a criminal offence: the statutory elements (actus reus), unlawfulness, guilt (capacity and intent or negligence), and the absence of justification or excuse. Learn the defences: self-defence, necessity, coercion, mistake of fact versus mistake of law, and diminished capacity.
317 words, about 2 min03Constitutional and Administrative Law: Hierarchy, Rights, and Review
A candidate must understand the hierarchy of legal norms, the supremacy of the constitution, and the mechanisms of constitutional review. Know the separation of powers, the organisation of the legislature, executive and judiciary, and the procedure for adopting and amending the constitution.
300 words, about 2 min04Labour and Social Security Law: Contract, Termination, and Protection
Labour law tests the employment contract: its elements, the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor, and the rule that the actual nature of the relationship prevails over the label. Know the mandatory minimum standards: working time, rest periods, leave, minimum wage, and protection of vulnerable categories (pregnant workers, minors, persons with disabilities).
308 words, about 2 min05Commercial Law and Company Law: Formation, Organs, and Liability
Commercial law tests the status of traders, the commercial contract, and the rules on commercial paper and securities. Know the forms of business organisation: sole trader, general and limited partnership, limited liability company, and joint-stock company.
301 words, about 2 min06Family and Inheritance Law: Status, Property, and Succession
Family law tests marriage and its formation and dissolution, the property regime of spouses, and the rights of children. Know the difference between marital property (acquired during marriage) and separate property, and the rules on division on divorce.
315 words, about 2 min07Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct: Duties and Discipline
Legal ethics tests the duties of the lawyer and judge: independence, confidentiality, loyalty, diligence, and integrity. Know the duty to avoid conflicts of interest, the rules on accepting and terminating representation, and the limits of the duty of confidentiality.
295 words, about 1 min08European Union Law and International Law: Sources, Effects, and Remedies
A candidate must know the sources of EU law: primary law (Treaties), secondary law (regulations, directives, decisions), and general principles. Understand the direct effect of regulations and, under conditions, of directives; the principle of supremacy; and the principle of conferral.
268 words, about 1 min09Legal Writing and Practical Skills: Structure, Reasoning, and Persuasion
Practical legal skills test the ability to produce a structured legal document: a claim, a defence, a contract, a decision, or a legal opinion. The core structure is: facts, legal issue, applicable law, analysis, and conclusion.
265 words, about 1 min