Key data
| Regulation | Agreement of June 9, 2026, of the Permanent Commission of the CGPJ, convening a selective process for access to the Judicial Career (Judge category, civil order) |
|---|---|
| Publication | June 15, 2026 |
| Entry into force | June 15, 2026 |
| Positions convened | 15 Judge positions (civil jurisdictional order) |
| LAJ Reserve | One third of positions reserved for Court Administrators of 1st or 2nd category |
| Disability reserve | 1 position for persons with disability equal to or greater than 33% |
| Application deadline | 20 business days from October 1, 2026 |
| Submission method | Preferably electronic |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Official source | BOE-A-2026-12914 |
If you have been practicing civil law for more than 10 years, this call is one of the few direct routes to access the Judicial Career without taking the general civil service exam. The General Council of the Judicial Power (CGPJ) published on June 15, 2026 the Agreement of its Permanent Commission by which 15 Judge positions are convened in the category of legal professionals of recognized competence in the civil jurisdictional order.
This call is part of a single process that is launched simultaneously for the criminal, administrative-contentious and social orders. That is, the civil selective process is coordinated with the other three parallel calls, although each jurisdictional order has its own positions and specific requirements.
What does this regulation establish?
The CGPJ regulates the so-called "legal professionals of recognized competence track", a route of access to the Judicial Career provided for in the Organic Law of the Judicial Power that allows incorporating legal professionals with extensive experience without needing to pass the traditional civil service exam.
The key aspects of the call are as follows:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total positions | 15 positions in the civil order |
| LAJ Reserve | One third of positions (approximately 5) for Court Administrators of 1st or 2nd category |
| Disability reserve | 1 position for candidates with disability equal to or greater than 33% |
| Minimum experience | More than 10 years of professional practice in matters specific to the civil order |
| Deadline start | October 1, 2026 |
| Deadline duration | 20 business days |
| Submission | Preferably by electronic means |
| Joint process | Simultaneous call with criminal, administrative-contentious and social orders |
Economic and operational impact
For professionals applying for these positions, the economic impact is significant: accessing the Judicial Career as a Judge means moving to a fixed public salary with the supplements specific to the judicial career, which for many practicing lawyers implies a substantial change in income structure.
From an operational perspective, law firms and legal practices must take into account that partners or associates with more than 10 years of civil specialization could apply for these positions, which may generate staffing planning needs. The call also affects law firms that have Court Administrators on their advisory teams or that collaborate with university professors.
The process is competitive: 15 positions for a potentially large group of civil law professionals with more than a decade of experience in Spain. The reservation of one third for Court Administrators reduces the positions of general open competition to approximately 10 positions (also discounting the disability position).
Who does it affect?
The following professional profiles can participate in this call, provided they accredit more than 10 years of professional practice in matters specific to the civil jurisdictional order:
- Practicing lawyers with specialization in civil law
- Prosecutors with experience in the civil order
- Court Administrators of first or second category (with specific reservation of one third of positions)
- Legal civil servants with more than 10 years in civil matters
- Full-time university law professors with dedication in civil law areas
It also indirectly affects:
- Law firms and practices that may lose key professionals
- Law schools that have full-time professors in civil law areas
- Judicial bodies that will receive new judges from private practice or academia
Practical example
A lawyer specialized in family law and succession, registered as a practicing lawyer since 2013, will have more than 10 years of professional practice in civil matters in 2026. She can submit her application during the 20 business days that open on October 1, 2026, preferably by electronic means.
If selected, she would directly access the Judicial Career in the Judge category, without needing to pass the general civil service entrance exam. As she is not a Court Administrator, she would compete for general open competition positions (approximately 10 of the 15 convened, once the LAJ reserve and the disability position are discounted).
A Court Administrator of first category with more than 10 years of experience in civil courts, on the other hand, could apply for both the positions of specific reserve for his group (approximately 5) and the general track, which expands his access opportunities.
What should legal professionals do now?
- Verify experience requirements: Check that more than 10 years of professional practice in matters specific to the civil order are accredited before the deadline starts (October 1, 2026).
- Prepare supporting documentation: Gather registration certificates, professional history, academic credentials and any documentation that proves specialization and track record in civil law.
- Identify the submission method: The call establishes submission preferably by electronic means. Make sure you have a valid digital certificate or electronic identification system before October 1.
- Mark the calendar: The 20 business day deadline from October 1, 2026 is non-extendable. Calculate the exact deadline taking into account business days on the official calendar.
- Consult parallel calls: If you have experience in other jurisdictional orders (criminal, administrative-contentious or social), review the simultaneous calls of the same single process, as they may offer additional positions.
- Seek advice on the LAJ reserve: Court Administrators of 1st or 2nd category should verify if they can benefit from the specific reserve of one third of positions, which may improve their chances.
Frequently asked questions
How many Judge positions are convened for civil law professionals in 2026?
The CGPJ convenes 15 Judge positions in the civil jurisdictional order for legal professionals of recognized competence with more than 10 years of professional practice. One third of those positions is reserved for Court Administrators of first or second category, and 1 position is reserved for persons with disability equal to or greater than 33%.
When is the deadline to apply for Judge positions through the legal professionals track in 2026?
The application deadline is 20 business days from October 1, 2026. Submission must be made preferably by electronic means. It is a non-extendable deadline, so it is advisable to prepare the documentation in advance.
What professionals can apply for the legal professionals of recognized competence track in the civil order?
The following can participate: practicing lawyers, prosecutors, Court Administrators, legal civil servants and full-time university law professors, provided they accredit more than 10 years of professional practice in matters specific to the civil jurisdictional order.
Is this civil call independent or part of a broader process?
It is part of a single process that the CGPJ launches simultaneously for four jurisdictional orders: civil, criminal, administrative-contentious and social. Each order has its own positions and specific call, but the selective process is coordinated jointly.
Do Court Administrators have an advantage in this call?
Yes. The call reserves one third of the 15 positions (approximately 5 positions) exclusively for Court Administrators of first or second category. This gives them a preferred route of access, although they can also compete in the general track if they meet the experience requirements.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-12914