Vlassopoulou v. Ministerium für Justiz, Bundes-und Europaangelegenheiten Baden-Württemberg
European Union Court of Justice
[1991] 1 E.C.R. I-2357 (1991)
- Written by Curtis Parvin, JD
Facts
Irène Vlassopoulou (plaintiff) was an admitted Greek lawyer holding degrees from Greek schools and a doctorate in law from a German university. Vlassopoulou had been practicing law in Germany, limited to foreign legal affairs involving Greek and European Community law, at a law firm for five years under the supervision of a German colleague. Vlassopoulou applied to the German ministry for admissions to practice law as a German lawyer. Germany and Greece are members of the European Union. The ministry rejected Vlassopoulou’s application because she had not fulfilled the requirements to become a German lawyer. Vlassopoulou appealed to the Lawyers’ Disciplinary Council, which dismissed Vlassopoulou’s claim. Vlassopoulou then appealed to the Germany Federal Supreme Court, which referred the issue to the European Union Court of Justice because the claim raised an issue of rights conferred by the European Economic Community (EEC) Treaty.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Per curiam)
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