100+ Free Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Practice Questions
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Sample Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1An IT specialist is engaged under a contract labeled 'Consultancy Mandate' (Beratungsauftrag). The specialist is required to work fixed hours from 08:30 to 17:30 at the client company's premises, uses company hardware, reports daily to the head of IT, and must strictly follow internal project management instructions. Which legal relationship exists between the parties under Swiss law?
2What is the primary doctrinal distinction between an individual employment contract (Art. 319 OR) and a contract for work (Werkvertrag, Art. 363 OR)?
3A graduate begins working at an architectural firm on a complex project with the explicit knowledge and daily supervision of the managing partner, although no written employment agreement was signed and remuneration was never discussed. How is this situation assessed under Art. 320 Abs. 2 OR?
4During a hiring interview for a standard administrative office position, the interviewer asks a female candidate whether she is currently pregnant or plans to start a family within the next two years. What are the candidate's legal rights under Swiss labor law?
5Under Art. 321a Abs. 1 OR, what legal standard determines whether an employee has fulfilled their statutory duty of care and loyalty (Sorgfalts- und Treuepflicht)?
6A senior software engineer employed 100% at a Swiss fintech company starts developing a competing algorithmic trading platform on weekends for a direct market competitor. The employment agreement is silent regarding secondary employment. Has the employee breached statutory obligations?
7An employee discovers systematic environmental regulatory violations within their company. Under established Federal Supreme Court case law regarding whistleblowing, what cascade of reporting steps must the employee follow to avoid breaching the duty of loyalty (Art. 321a OR)?
8A procurement manager accepts secret rebate payments (kickbacks / Retrozessionen) from a supplier into a private offshore bank account in connection with corporate purchasing contracts. Under Art. 321b Abs. 1 OR, what is the legal status of these funds?
9A research chemist employed specifically to invent new pharmaceutical compounds creates a blockbuster patentable molecule during regular working hours using company laboratories. Who owns the invention, and is the chemist entitled to special financial compensation under Art. 332 OR?
10Under Art. 17 of the Swiss Copyright Act (URG, SR 231.1), what happens to copyright and exploitation rights when an employee creates computer software in the performance of their contractual duties?
About the Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Exam
The Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht (Avocat spécialiste FSA droit du travail / Avvocato specialista FSA diritto del lavoro) is the premier specialist credential for practicing employment and labor attorneys in Switzerland, conferred by the Swiss Bar Association (Schweizerischer Anwaltsverband SAV / FSA). Governed by the SAV Fachanwaltsreglement (FAR) and the specific regulatory guidelines (FAB Arbeitsrecht), this certification verifies expert-level proficiency across individual employment contract law (Code of Obligations OR Art. 319–362), public protective labor law (Federal Labor Act ArG & Ordinances ArGV 1–5), equality legislation (Gender Equality Act GlG), collective labor relations (Collective Employment Agreements GAV, Standard Employment Contracts NAV, industrial peace, employee representation under the MWG), enterprise transfers and mass redundancies (OR Art. 333/335d–k), post-contractual non-compete covenants (OR Art. 340–340c), procedural labor litigation (Swiss Civil Procedure Code ZPO Art. 243/247, free litigation thresholds under Art. 114 ZPO, conciliation), and cross-cutting social insurance coordination (UVG, BVG, ALV, KTG). NOTE: This 100-question practice bank is an English-language study adaptation designed for rigorous specialist exam preparation, preserving precise Swiss statutory articles and Federal Supreme Court (BGE) doctrines.
Assessment
Performance-based assessment
Time Limit
3 to 5 hours (written specialist examination) + 30 to 60 min (oral colloquium)
Passing Score
Pass (Min. 60% on written exam + approved case portfolio & oral colloquium defense)
Exam Fee
CHF 1,800 (Title evaluation & colloquium fee; accredited course CHF 13,500 to CHF 15,000 depending on the course edition) (Schweizerischer Anwaltsverband (SAV / FSA - Swiss Bar Association))
Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Exam Content Outline
Individual Employment Formation & General Duties
Comprehensive legal analysis of employment contract conclusion, legal characterization, subordination criteria, employee and employer duties, and operational liability under Swiss law. Key topics include distinguishing the individual employment contract (Einzelarbeitsvertrag OR Art. 319) from mandate/agency (Auftrag OR Art. 394) and contract for work (Werkvertrag OR Art. 363) based on personal subordination (Subordinationsverhältnis), operational integration, and instructions; form-free contract conclusion and tacit agreements (OR Art. 320); employee duty of care and loyalty (Sorgfalts- und Treuepflicht OR Art. 321a), prohibitions on competitive secondary employment (Nebenerwerb) and moonlighting (Schwarzarbeit); accounting and surrender obligations (Rechenschafts- und Herausgabepflicht OR Art. 321b); employee inventions, industrial designs, and computer software rights (OR Art. 321c/d and Art. 332); employer right of direction (Weisungsrecht OR Art. 321d); and employee contractual liability (OR Art. 321e) evaluated according to degree of fault (intent, gross/light negligence), professional risk (Betriebsrisiko), and damage reduction principles.
Remuneration, Working Hours & Public Labor Law
In-depth examination of statutory and contractual wage provisions, variable compensation structures, wage continuation during personal incapacity, and public protective working time rules. Core areas include wage determination, 13th-month salary entitlement and pro-rata rules, legal distinction between discretionary gratifications (Gratifikation OR Art. 322d) and mandatory variable compensation / real bonuses (echter Bonus vs unechter Bonus) based on BGE criteria (accessoriness / Akzessorietät, reservation of voluntariness, very high income / 5x median wage threshold); commission (Provision OR Art. 322b/c) and share in business results; employer default of acceptance (Annahmeverzug OR Art. 324); statutory wage continuation during illness, accident, or statutory duty (OR Art. 324a, Bernese, Zurich, and Basel scales) and private/collective insurance replacement (OR Art. 324b / KTG daily allowances); public labor law under the Federal Labor Act (Arbeitsgesetz ArG, SR 822.11) and Ordinances (ArGV 1–5), maximum weekly working hours (45h vs 50h, Art. 9 ArG), legal distinction between contractual overtime (Überstunden OR Art. 321c) and statutory overtime (Überzeit ArG Art. 12), mandatory compensation rules and written waiver limits; rest breaks (ArG Art. 15), daily rest periods (ArG Art. 15a), night work (ArG Art. 16/17), Sunday work (ArG Art. 18–20), and personal health protection (ArG Art. 6 / OR Art. 328).
Termination, Notice Periods & Abusive Dismissal
Comprehensive analysis of individual employment termination, statutory notice periods, dismissal protection doctrines, and extraordinary immediate dismissal. Focus includes fixed-term contracts (OR Art. 334) and prohibition of abusive chain contracts (Kettenarbeitsverträge); probationary period dynamics (OR Art. 335b, maximum 3 months, 7-day notice, extension for illness/accident); ordinary statutory and contractual notice periods (OR Art. 335c); termination notice receipt principles (Empfangstheorie) and end-of-month computation; abusive dismissal doctrine (Missbräuchliche Kündigung OR Art. 336: personal traits, constitutional rights, retaliation / Rachekündigung, trade union activity, thwarting claims), legal validity of abusive termination, statutory penalty of up to 6 months' gross salary (OR Art. 336a), and strict procedural deadlines (written objection before expiry of notice period + court action within 180 days after termination); dismissal during protected periods / Sperrfristen (OR Art. 336c: military/civil defense, illness/accident scales of 30/90/180 days, pregnancy and 16 weeks post-birth, nullity vs suspension and postponement to month-end); extraordinary summary dismissal for cause (Fristlose Kündigung aus wichtigem Grund OR Art. 337), objective breakdown of mutual trust, requirement of prior written warning (Abmahnung) vs severe single breach, immediate declaration within 2–3 working days; consequences of unjustified summary dismissal (OR Art. 337c: full damage compensation until regular notice expiry minus substitute income/savings + penalty up to 6 months' salary); employee unjustified abandonment of post (OR Art. 337d, 1/4 monthly salary penalty); and statutory severance pay (Abgangsentschädigung OR Art. 339b) and 2nd-pillar BVG pension deduction rules.
Non-Compete Clauses, Business Transfer & Special Contracts
Advanced doctrine and litigation strategies concerning post-contractual non-compete agreements, enterprise restructuring, mass layoffs, and special employment forms. Core subjects cover post-contractual non-compete covenants (OR Art. 340–340c): validity requirements (written form, legal capacity, insight into customer base or trade/manufacturing secrets, causation of substantial damage, exclusion for liberal professions / freelance client relationships); statutory limitation boundaries (place, duration max 3 years / typically max 1 year, subject matter) and judicial moderation (OR Art. 340a Abs. 2); enforcement mechanisms: damages, contractual penalty (Konventionalstrafe OR Art. 340b), and real specific performance (Realexekution); extinction of non-compete (lapse of employer interest, unjustified termination by employer or justified termination by employee OR Art. 340c); transfer of business enterprise / Betriebsübergang (OR Art. 333/333a), automatic transfer of employment relationships with all accrued rights and duties, employee objection rights (Ablehnungsrecht) and statutory termination consequences, information and consultation duties with employee representatives, joint and several liability of transferor and transferee; mass dismissal regulations (Massenentlassung OR Art. 335d–g: employee consultation, cantonal labor office notification, blocking period) and mandatory social plan obligations (Sozialplanpflicht OR Art. 335h–k) for enterprises with >=250 employees laying off >=30 workers; and apprenticeship contracts (Lehrvertrag OR Art. 344–346a, cantonal approval, special termination).
Collective Labor Law, Gender Equality & Litigation
Comprehensive mastery of collective bargaining agreements, anti-discrimination and equal pay legislation, procedural labor litigation, and social insurance coordination. Key topics include Collective Employment Agreements (Gesamtarbeitsvertrag GAV OR Art. 356–358): normative provisions (direct mandatory effect on individual employment OR Art. 357) vs obligatory provisions (peace obligation / Friedenspflicht: relative vs absolute), declaring GAV generally binding (Allgemeinverbindlicherklärung AVE), and Standard Employment Contracts (Normalarbeitsvertrag NAV OR Art. 359–360f); Gender Equality Act (Gleichstellungsgesetz GlG, SR 151.1): direct/indirect discrimination, sexual harassment (GlG Art. 4, employer liability Art. 5 Abs. 3), equal pay mandates (BV Art. 8 Abs. 3, GlG Art. 3, Logib analysis for employers with >=100 employees Art. 13a GlG), alleviation of the burden of proof (Beweislasterleichterung GlG Art. 6: prima facie plausibility shifting proof to employer), and special protection against dismissal during equality proceedings (Rachekündigungsschutz GlG Art. 10, reinstatement vs compensation); labor litigation under the Swiss Civil Procedure Code (Zivilprozessordnung ZPO, SR 272): conciliation procedure (Schlichtungsverfahren ZPO Art. 197 ff.), simplified procedure (Vereinfachtes Verfahren ZPO Art. 243 up to CHF 30,000 and regardless of value for GlG/MWG claims), social investigation maxim (soziale Untersuchungsmaxime ZPO Art. 247 Abs. 2), free litigation up to CHF 30,000 (Kostenlosigkeit ZPO Art. 114 lit. c); and social insurance coordination: statutory accident insurance (UVG), occupational pensions (BVG), unemployment insurance (ALV suspension days for self-inflicted dismissal), and daily sickness benefit insurance (KTG under VVG/KVG).
How to Pass the Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass (Min. 60% on written exam + approved case portfolio & oral colloquium defense)
- Assessment: Performance-based assessment
- Time limit: 3 to 5 hours (written specialist examination) + 30 to 60 min (oral colloquium)
- Exam fee: CHF 1,800 (Title evaluation & colloquium fee; accredited course CHF 13,500 to CHF 15,000 depending on the course edition)
Keys to Passing
- Work through all 100 available questions
- Review every answer and explanation
- Track weak areas and revisit them
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht (Avocat spécialiste FSA droit du travail) title?
The Fachanwalt SAV Arbeitsrecht is the official postgraduate specialist attorney credential conferred by the Swiss Bar Association (Schweizerischer Anwaltsverband SAV / FSA). It certifies supreme professional competence, extensive practical litigation experience, and specialized theoretical mastery in individual, collective, public, and procedural Swiss employment law.
What are the core eligibility requirements and training pathway?
Candidates must be admitted Swiss attorneys (Anwaltspatent / Brevet d'avocat) registered with a cantonal supervisory bar registry under the BGFA, demonstrate at least 5 years of active legal practice post-admission (with at least 3 years dedicated primarily to employment law), submit a verified logbook of at least 120 specialized employment cases, complete a 120-hour accredited postgraduate specialist course, and pass both a written specialist examination of 3 to 5 hours and an oral Fachgespräch colloquium before the SAV Fachkommission Arbeitsrecht.
What is the fee structure for obtaining the specialist title?
The official SAV evaluation and examination fee is CHF 1,800 (covering portfolio evaluation, written exam oversight, and the oral colloquium). In addition, tuition for the accredited academic postgraduate specialist course (jointly organized by universities and the SAV) typically ranges between CHF 13,500 and CHF 14,500.
Why is this practice question bank presented in English?
This 100-question practice bank is an English-language specialist study adaptation created to enable comprehensive self-assessment, structured learning, and cross-cantonal study. It strictly reflects the official Swiss Bar Association syllabus and Swiss statutory frameworks (OR, ArG, GlG, ZPO, UVG, BVG) while faithfully preserving authentic German and French legal terminology, statutory article references, and Federal Supreme Court (BGE) doctrines.
How are variable compensation and bonuses qualified under Swiss Federal Supreme Court case law?
Under established BGE jurisprudence, a variable payment is qualified either as mandatory variable wage (unechter Bonus / variabler Lohn) or as a discretionary gratification (echter Bonus / Gratifikation OR Art. 322d). A payment is a mandatory wage component if an entitlement was contractually agreed or if the payment lacks 'accessoriness' (Akzessorietät), meaning it represents a substantial or dominant portion of the employee's total compensation, unless the employee's total income qualifies as 'very high' (defined as exceeding five times the Swiss median gross salary, approx. CHF 390,000+).
What are the strict procedural requirements for contesting an abusive dismissal under OR Art. 336/336a?
To preserve a claim for punitive compensation under OR Art. 336a (up to 6 months' gross salary), the employee must: 1) submit a formal written objection (schriftliche Einsprache) to the employer before the contractual notice period expires, and 2) if no amicable agreement is reached, file a formal lawsuit in court within 180 days following the legal termination of the employment relationship. Failure to comply with either deadline leads to total forfeiture of the compensation claim.