Candidate of Law (Latin: candidatus/candidata juris/iuris) is both a graduate law degree awarded to law students in the Nordic region as well as an academic status designation for advanced Law School students in German-speaking countries. Nordics except Denmark have changed their law degrees from the candidate to masters due Bologna Process. The Candidate law degree was formerly also existent in Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The exam can only be taken at a university with a diploma privilege granted by the government. The competition for a study right in law at university is very fierce in the Nordic region. There are usually more than ten applicants to each place at law faculties. The admission system, however, varies in every country. Countries Denmark Juridisk kandidateksamen (cand. jur.) is obtained after five years of law studies (180 + 120 ECTS). Undergraduate degree is Bachelor i jura (bac. jur.) which usually take three years to complete (180 ECTS). Estonia Before the Soviet occupation, a post-graduate law degree was cand.jur. in Estonia. For example, President Konstantin Päts had the cand. jur. degree from the University of Tartu. The degree derives from history, Estonia has been for centuries under the influence of Nordic countries, e.g. by being a part of the Danish Kingdom. The current post-graduate law degree is Õigusteaduse magister. Finland Before 2005 Finland had Oikeustieteen kandidaatti, abbreviated OTK (, Jur. kand.) degree. It was replaced by Oikeustieteen maisteri, abbreviated OTM (, JM) which is obtained after five years of law studies (180 + 120 ECTS). Previously graduated OTK diploma holders were eligible to continue using their previous title. Both before and after the Bologna process, the academic degree is split into two different diplomas. Previously, the lower degree was Varanotaari, abbreviated VN (), and current lower degree Oikeusnotaari, abbreviated ON (, RN) is awarded after completing three years of study (180 ECTS). Germany, Austria and Switzerland In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the term "cand. iur." is a designation used in the academic environment by advanced law students. However, it is not an academic degree. Rather, the designation is used in an internal university context or in the context of publications, for example contributions to journals or anthologies. The designation is usually obtained after successful completion of the intermediate examination (after 4 to 6 semesters) and roughly corresponds to the qualification level of a Bachelor of Laws. Before passing the intermediate examination, law