The exam is taken in writing and orally.

The written part of the exam covers criminal law and civil law.

The oral part of the exam is taken in:

1. Criminal law (substantive and procedural)

2. Civil law (substantive and procedural)

3. Family law

4. Economic law

5. Administrative law

6. Labour law

7. Constitutional system and organisation of the judiciary.

The examination is taken as part of the bar examination programme, which includes the syllabus, legal sources and literature for each subject from 1) to 7).

The programme for the judicial examination at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina was adopted and published in the Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina, No. 11/19.

The examination is taken before the Bar Examination Board, which consists of a chairperson and four members drawn from the panel of examiners.

The Ministry of Justice determines by decision whether the candidate meets the requirements to sit the bar exam. On the basis of the decision authorising the candidate to sit the exam, the Chair of the Commission fixes the time at which the candidate will sit the exam.

The process of sitting the bar exam

On the first day of the examination period, a written essay (judgment) in criminal law is taken; on the second day, one in civil law. The candidate is entitled to six hours to complete the written assignment. On the third day, the oral examination takes place.

A candidate who fails the written part of the examination in either the criminal law or civil law section cannot proceed to the oral examination and is deemed to have failed the examination.

The Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues a certificate of passing to the candidate who has passed the examination, which is signed by the Minister of Justice.

Make-up exam

A candidate who does not demonstrate satisfactory knowledge in up to two subjects in the examination is entitled to sit a resit examination in those subjects, or in that subject.

The period for sitting a resit examination in one subject shall be no less than one month and no more than three months, and the period for sitting a resit examination in two subjects shall be no less than two months and no more than four months.

If a candidate fails only the oral component of an examination in a subject in which they have already passed the written component, they are not required to sit the written component again at the resit.

If the candidate does not pass the resit exam within the specified period, they will be deemed to have failed the exam.

A candidate who has failed the exam may retake it after a period of six months from the date of the previous sitting.

Withdrawal from an exam

If a candidate fails to sit the exam or, before it begins, declares that they are withdrawing from it, they will be deemed not to have sat the exam. In this case, the candidate must submit a new application to sit the exam.

If a candidate withdraws from an exam that has already begun, or fails to submit their written work within the allotted time, they will be deemed to have failed the exam.

Exam postponement

The start of an examination may be postponed if a candidate is prevented from continuing due to illness or other justified reasons. The decision to postpone the examination is made by the Commission. The decision on resuming the examination is made by the Commission at the candidate's request. The request must be submitted within eight days of the reason for the postponement ceasing, but no later than three months from the date the decision to postpone was made. If the candidate does not submit the request to resume the examination within the deadline, or if their request is refused, they shall be deemed to have failed the examination. A candidate may appeal against the Commission's decision to the Minister of Justice within 15 days of receiving the decision. Upon resuming the examination, the candidate will not sit the part of the examination they were taking at the time of the postponement.

Public examination

Article 14 of the Act regulates that the oral part of the judicial examination is public.

Other interested candidates, as well as other individuals, may attend a candidate's oral examination, subject to space capacity.

The examination is taken at the premises of the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

• Law on the Taking of the Judicial Examination ("Official Gazette of BiH", no. 33/04)

• Law on Amendments and Supplementations to the Law on Taking the Judicial Examination ("Official Gazette of BiH", no. 56/08)

• Regulations on the Taking of the Judicial Examination at the Level of Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette of BiH", no. 74/23)

• The Programme for the Judicial Examination in Bosnia and Herzegovina ("Official Gazette of BiH", No. 11/19)