One of my first posts introduced readers to Germany’s most exclusive bar: the lawyers exclusively admitted to the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof) in civil matters. It was election time again, and the Federal Ministry of Justice has announced eight new supreme court lawyers (Rechtsanwälte beim BGH). Prior to this year’s appointments, the bar comprised 37 lawyers. As it has become customary, I am inclined to say, this round of appointments also triggered legal challenges to the election process, and ultimately to the monopoly that the supreme court lawyers enjoy. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Rechtsanwalt beim BGH
Germany’s Most Exclusive Bar
“Closed Shop” (Geschlossene Gesellschaft), was the headline of Juve’s September cover story. JuVe, the legal industry magazine, reported on Germany’s most exclusive bar: It comprises the 37 lawyers admitted to the Federal Supreme Court (Bundesgerichtshof or BGH) in civil matters. To put that number into perspective: the Federal Supreme Court has 128 full-time judges. Taking into account the judges dedicated to the criminal law section of the Court, my estimate is that some 90 judges deal with civil law matters, that is, almost 2.5 judges per lawyer. Quite an unusual ratio, I would think, and quite a task for the poor lawyers to keep all these judges busy. Continue reading