Federal Court of Justice

The Bar at the Federal Court of Justice

The task of the bar at the Federal Court of Justice consists of representing the parties involved in civil proceedings before the Federal Court of Justice. In civil proceedings, only the lawyers licensed in the Federal Court of Justice are entitled to submit pleas. These lawyers are largely prohibited from working in other courts. This restriction and the rule regarding specialisation are designed to ensure that civil appeals on points of law, appeals against refusal of leave to appeal and complaints on points of law are professionally handled. Currently, 40 lawyers are licensed in the Federal Court of Justice.

To be licensed in the Federal Court of Justice, a lawyer must be at least 35 years of age, have practised law for at least five years without interruption, and be nominated by the Lawyers Election Committee of the Federal Court of Justice. The Committee consists of the President of the Federal Court of Justice, the presiding judges of the civil panels, and the members of the presiding committees of the German Federal Bar and the Chamber of Lawyers at the Federal Court of Justice. The application for admission of a lawyer nominated by the Election Committee will be decided by the Federal Minister of Justice.

Further information about the bar at the Federal Court of Justice can be found on the website of the Chamber of Lawyers at the Federal Court of Justice: "Rechtsanwaltskammer beim Bundesgerichtshof".

In criminal proceedings, any lawyer licensed in Germany and any lecturer in law at a German university who is qualified to hold judicial office may act as a defence counsel for the defendant or as a representative of the joint plaintiff in cases heard by the Federal Court of Justice.