Rechtsanwaltskammern

Rechtsanwaltskammern are regional professional bodies that regulate and represent the legal profession in Germany. They serve as the local regulators and members’ associations for attorneys admitted to practice in their jurisdiction, operating within the framework of national professional rules.

Each Rechtsanwaltskammer corresponds to a particular region or state and is a self-governing corporation under public law. The chambers cooperate with the Bundesrechtsanwaltskammer (BRAK), the federal bar association, which coordinates the work of all chambers, represents the profession at the national level, and helps harmonize standards across regions. Members of a chamber are lawyers who practice within its territorial area.

The chambers perform several core functions. They oversee admission to the bar and maintain the official register of licensed attorneys in their region. They enforce professional conduct standards under the Rechtsanwaltsordnung (BRAO) and the Berufsordnung für Rechtsanwälte (BORA), handle complaints and disciplinary procedures, and may impose sanctions such as warnings, fines, or suspension in accordance with statutory procedures. They also organize continuing professional education and maintain guidelines on practice management and advertising. In addition, chambers provide services to members—such as professional guidance, training opportunities, and access to practice-related resources—and they supply information to the public about lawyers and the legal profession.

Funding typically comes from member fees and statutory contributions, with the chambers operating independently of direct government budgeting while remaining subject to legal oversight and the framework set by the judiciary and BRAK. The system aims to uphold professional standards, protection of the public, and the integrity of the legal profession.