Complex sentence: In 1958 he graduated with honor the first state exam of law (thirdbest exam in Baden-Württemberg), worked as a lawyer in his father's office and passed the second state exam.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1958 he took a first state exam of law (third-best exam in Baden-Württemberg) and graduated with honors. He then worked as a lawyer in his father's office and passed the second state exam.