Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft – Admission (RLP)

The application form can be obtained from the competent bar association. Submit the completed and signed application with all the required documents to the Bar Association.

• The Bar Association examines the admission requirements.
• If the admission requirements are met, the law firm is admitted and receives a certificate of admission.
• Upon admission, the law firm becomes a member of the Bar Association.

• The object of the company is to provide advice and representation in legal matters.
• The shareholders are:
  • lawyers,
  • Patent Attorneys,
  • Tax consultants,
  • tax agents,
  • auditors or
  • sworn auditors.
• These partners must be professionally active in the law firm.
• In principle, the majority of shares and voting rights must belong to lawyers.
• Shares of the law firm may not be held for third parties.
• Third parties may not participate in the profits of the law firm.
• In principle, the majority of the managing persons must be lawyers.
• The independence of lawyers acting as managing persons, persons with power of attorney or authorised representatives must be guaranteed. Influence exerted by the shareholders is not permitted.
• The company must not be in financial decline.
• There is sufficient professional liability insurance of the law firm.
• Registration of the company in the commercial register.

The documents required in your case can be found in the application form, in particular the following:

• Certificate of incorporation (copy)
• Proof of professional liability insurance or a provisional confirmation of cover (copy)
• List of shareholders according to § 8 paragraph 1 number 3 of the Act on Limited Liability Companies (GmbHG) (certified copy)
• Shareholders' resolution on the appointment of managing persons, if necessary also persons with power of attorney and authorized representatives (copy)
• Employment contracts of managing persons, persons with power of attorney and authorised representatives (copy)
• Certificate of the respective professional chamber on the existence of the membership of the partners (copy)
• Proof of payment of the administrative fee

For the admission of the law firm, fees are charged in accordance with the respective scale of fees of the competent bar association.

Admission must be granted prior to the commencement of business activities of the law firm.

Your application will be reviewed within 3 months.

• §§ 59c et seq. of the Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO)

An application for a court decision may be filed against a negative decision within one month of service (Section 112a (1), Section 112c (1) sentence 1 of the Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO), Section 74 (1) sentence 1 of the Code of Administrative Court Procedure (VwGO)).

The participation of law firms in associations for the joint exercise of the profession is prohibited.

The law firm must immediately notify the competent bar association of any changes to the articles of association, the partners or in the person of the persons authorised to represent the company pursuant to § 59f of the Federal Lawyers' Act (BRAO) as well as the establishment or dissolution of branches to the competent bar association, enclosing a publicly certified copy of the respective document.

27.10.2021