Finding a lawyer and paying for legal help in Berlin: Beratungshilfe, Prozesskostenhilfe, free advice
The German version of this page has been changed, this translation has not. Please rely on the German page.
This page does not provide legal advice. It shows where you can turn for help.
1. Finding a lawyer: The Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin (Berlin Bar Association) has a lawyer search. You can search by area of law, city district, and foreign language. Only lawyers who have registered themselves are listed there.
2. Little money? Beratungshilfe: For advice and representation outside of court proceedings, you can apply for Beratungshilfe (legal advice aid) at the Amtsgericht (local court). The Amtsgericht of your place of residence (main residence) is responsible. You receive a Berechtigungsschein (aid voucher) for a lawyer of your choice. According to the Rechtsanwaltskammer and the Senate Administration, you then pay a personal contribution of 15 euros. In urgent cases you can go to the lawyer first; the application can be submitted afterward, at the latest four weeks after the start of the advice work.
3. Court proceedings: For court proceedings there is Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings; called Verfahrenskostenhilfe in family matters). You apply for it at the court where the proceedings are taking place. You need a statement about your personal and economic circumstances. Caution: if you lose, you still have to bear the other side's costs.
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Whether you are entitled is decided by the court.
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- Clarify what you need help withIf it concerns advice outside of court (for example, a letter to an authority or a company), Beratungshilfe may apply. If it concerns court proceedings, Prozesskostenhilfe may apply.
- Apply for Beratungshilfe at the AmtsgerichtAt the Amtsgericht of your main residence, in writing by post or in person. Bring: application for approval of Beratungshilfe, ID card or passport with registration certificate, proof of income (pay statements, ALG II notice), rental contract, bank statements from the last three months, proof of payment obligations, documents relating to the legal problem.
- Go to the lawyer with the BerechtigungsscheinIf you are entitled, you receive a Berechtigungsschein (aid voucher) for a lawyer of your choice. The Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin's lawyer search helps with the selection (filters: area of law, district, language).
- In urgent cases: go to the lawyer firstYou can contact a lawyer directly; they file the application afterward. The application must be submitted at the latest four weeks after the start of the advice work (§ 6 Abs. 2 BerHG).
- For court proceedings: check ProzesskostenhilfeApplication to the competent court, with a reasoned application, a signed statement on personal and economic circumstances, and supporting documents. The application procedure itself is free of charge.
- Beratungshilfe covers advice and representation outside of court proceedings. According to Service Berlin, Beratungshilfe applies "bis zur endgültigen außergerichtlichen Erledigung der Angelegenheit" (until the matter is finally settled out of court); for court proceedings, Prozesskostenhilfe can be applied for.
- Prozesskostenhilfe and Verfahrenskostenhilfe cover only your own proceedings costs. According to Berlin.de: "Wer unterliegt und dem Gegner Kosten erstatten muss, ist durch die Prozess- oder Verfahrenskostenhilfe nicht geschützt" (whoever loses and has to reimburse the other side's costs is not protected by Prozesskostenhilfe or Verfahrenskostenhilfe).
- The 15-euro personal contribution for Beratungshilfe is named by the Rechtsanwaltskammer and Service Berlin (Service Berlin: "15,00 Euro" for advice and representation by a lawyer is "possible"). Whether and when the personal contribution is waived in an individual case: no confirmed information is available for this.
- The Rechtsanwaltskammer names as a requirement, among others, that no legal expenses insurance exists. Check this before applying.
- Service Berlin additionally names as requirements an independent attempt to contact the other party and that the court checks whether it can grant help itself (§ 1 Abs. 1 BerHG: no other reasonable help available, no frivolous/reckless pursuit). What counts as a sufficient contact attempt in an individual case is not explained in the sources: no confirmed information is available for this.
- Deadlines for applying for Prozesskostenhilfe: no confirmed information is available for this. Prozesskostenhilfe requires sufficient prospect of success and the absence of frivolous/reckless pursuit (§ 114 Abs. 1 ZPO). Filing deadlines for lawsuits (for example, in the case of dismissal) continue to run independently of this; see the page on labor rights.
- Öffentliche Rechtsberatung (public legal advice) in the State of Berlin: the Rechtsanwaltskammer writes that in Berlin one can choose between the Öffentliche Rechtsberatung and lawyer-based Beratungshilfe. The Bundesportal entry on Öffentliche Rechtsberatung applies to Schleswig-Holstein, not to Berlin. Exact Berlin locations, hours, and costs from an official source: no confirmed information is available for this.
- The list of advice centers in Berlin comes from the site beratungsstellen.berlin (operator not stated in the available content) and is not officially confirmed. Check offerings by phone before visiting.
In depth · Legal basis, figures and practice – for counsellors and professionals
Lawyer search (Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin)
The RAK Berlin's lawyer search allows searching for lawyers in Berlin "die auf bestimmten Rechtsgebieten oder in bestimmten Bezirken tätig sind oder die eine Fremdsprache sprechen" (who work in certain areas of law or in certain districts, or who speak a foreign language). Criteria: area of law (over 100 specialist fields according to the site), foreign language (at least 40 languages), street, postal code, name. Note from the chamber: "Hier finden Sie nur die Rechtsanwältinnen und Rechtsanwälte, die sich hier mit den entsprechenden Daten selbst eingetragen haben" (only lawyers who have registered themselves here with the corresponding data are listed); qualifications are based on self-assessment. Other services of the chamber: mediator list, public defender search, information on Prozesskostenhilfe and Beratungshilfe. Contact: Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin, Littenstraße 9, 10179 Berlin; [email protected]; tel. 030 306931-0 (phone number on the chamber's Beratungshilfe subpage). Cost of an initial lawyer consultation: another source names 60 to 190 euros plus VAT under RVG (the lawyers' fee schedule); not confirmed from an official source (no confirmed information is available for this).
Beratungshilfe
Legal basis: Beratungshilfegesetz (BerHG, the Legal Advice Aid Act). § 1 Abs. 1 BerHG: Beratungshilfe is granted if (1) the person seeking legal help does not have sufficient financial means, (2) there is no other reasonable way to get help, and (3) exercising their rights is not frivolous/reckless (according to a summary of the wording). The requirement of insufficient means is met if Prozesskostenhilfe under the ZPO (Code of Civil Procedure) would be granted without a personal contribution (§ 1 Abs. 2 BerHG); frivolous/reckless pursuit: making use of help even though a person, on a reasonable assessment of all circumstances, would refrain from obtaining legal advice at their own expense (§ 1 Abs. 3 BerHG, paraphrased).
Procedure in Berlin: According to Service Berlin: application "schriftlich per Post oder persönlich beim zuständigen Amtsgericht" (in writing by post or in person at the competent Amtsgericht); "Beratungshilfe kann nur bei dem Amtsgericht, in dessen Zuständigkeitsbereich die betroffene Person mit ihrem Hauptwohnsitz gemeldet ist, beantragt werden" (Beratungshilfe can only be applied for at the Amtsgericht in whose area of jurisdiction the person concerned is registered with their main residence). According to the Rechtsanwaltskammer, a Rechtspfleger (judicial officer) at the Amtsgericht checks personal and economic circumstances; if entitled, a Berechtigungsschein is issued for a lawyer of one's own choice; "In Eilfällen kann man direkt zu einem Anwalt gehen, der den Antrag nachträglich stellt" (in urgent cases one can go directly to a lawyer, who files the application afterward). § 6 Abs. 1 BerHG: the Amtsgericht issues the Berechtigungsschein if the requirements are met and the matter is not being handled by the Amtsgericht itself. § 6 Abs. 2 BerHG: retroactive application "spätestens vier Wochen nach Beginn der Beratungshilfetätigkeit" (at the latest four weeks after the start of the advice work). Documents according to Service Berlin: application, ID with registration certificate, proof of income, rental contract, bank statements from the last three months, proof of payment obligations, documents relating to the problem. Costs: court procedure free of charge; personal contribution of 15.00 euros for advice or representation by a lawyer. Advice providers: according to unconfirmed information, lawyers, legal advisers, tax consultants, auditors, pension advisers, and advice centers with an agreement; not officially confirmed.
Opening hours and addresses of the Rechtsantragstellen (court filing offices) of the Berlin Amtsgerichte: no confirmed information is available for this (a PDF overview of the Berlin courts could not be evaluated). For the four family courts (Köpenick, Pankow, Schöneberg, Kreuzberg), addresses are given on the page about filing for protection against violence (see the page on violence and protection).
Prozesskostenhilfe and Verfahrenskostenhilfe
§ 114 Abs. 1 ZPO: A party who, according to their personal and economic circumstances, cannot bear the costs of the proceedings, or can bear them only in part or only in installments, "erhält auf Antrag Prozesskostenhilfe, wenn die beabsichtigte Rechtsverfolgung oder Rechtsverteidigung hinreichende Aussicht auf Erfolg bietet und nicht mutwillig erscheint" (receives Prozesskostenhilfe on application if the intended pursuit or defense of rights offers sufficient prospect of success and does not appear frivolous/reckless). According to Service Berlin: prospect of success, no alternative legal protection (legal expenses insurance, statutory maintenance obligations), economic need (own income and assets must first be used up); the assessment is repeated regularly. Documents: written, reasoned application; handwritten, signed statement on personal and economic circumstances; supporting documents. Application procedure free of charge; lawyer's fees depend on the individual case. The competent court is the one where the proceedings are filed or pending. For the application to obtain a protection order under the Gewaltschutzgesetz (Protection Against Violence Act), Service Berlin explicitly names Verfahrenskostenhilfe.
Free and low-cost advice
Locations and times according to the site (details may change): Kreuzberg (Wrangelkiez) almost every Monday 18:30–20:30, no appointment needed; Wedding Mondays 19:00–20:00 (registration by email); Marienfelde Thursdays (odd calendar weeks) 17:00–19:00 (registration); Neukölln (Flinta*/women) on request and on the 1st Thursday of the month 18:00–20:00 (email registration); Neukölln (GU, communal accommodation) Wednesdays 18:00–20:00 (registration, ID document); online Wednesdays 18:00–20:15, three slots of 45 minutes each (registration); family reunification Wednesdays 18:00–20:00 (registration); Bus of Resources Wednesdays 14:00–18:00 at changing locations in accommodation facilities. Email addresses: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].
Öffentliche Rechtsberatung / other advice centers in Berlin (according to the site beratungsstellen.berlin, not officially confirmed): Verbraucherzentrale Berlin (consumer advice center); Pro Familia (family law, labor law); AWO Berlin-Mitte; Rechtsberatung Neukölln, Köpenick, Kreuzberg (Bürgeramt/citizens' office), Hellersdorf; student legal advice at HWR (Lichtenberg); ASTA TU and ASTA FU (student unions). The site does not name addresses, hours, or costs of these centers. The Rechtsanwaltskammer mentions the Öffentliche Rechtsberatung as an alternative option alongside lawyer-based Beratungshilfe.
Gaps
- What is “Finding a lawyer and paying for legal help in Berlin” about?
- You need legal advice but have little money? Here is how to find a lawyer in Berlin (Rechtsanwaltskammer), apply for Beratungshilfe (legal aid for advice) at the Amtsgericht (local court), learn about Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings), and which free services exist.
- Which deadlines and figures matter?
- at the latest 4 weeks after the start of the advice work: Retroactive application for Beratungshilfe if you turned directly to a lawyer or another advice provider (§ 6 Abs. 2 BerHG (Beratungshilfegesetz))
- What should I do first?
- Clarify what you need help with: If it concerns advice outside of court (for example, a letter to an authority or a company), Beratungshilfe may apply. If it concerns court proceedings, Prozesskostenhilfe may apply.
- Apply for Beratungshilfe at the Amtsgericht: At the Amtsgericht of your main residence, in writing by post or in person. Bring: application for approval of Beratungshilfe, ID card or passport with registration certificate, proof of income (pay statements, ALG II notice), rental contract, bank statements from the last three months, proof of payment obligations, documents relating to the legal problem.
- Go to the lawyer with the Berechtigungsschein: If you are entitled, you receive a Berechtigungsschein (aid voucher) for a lawyer of your choice. The Rechtsanwaltskammer Berlin's lawyer search helps with the selection (filters: area of law, district, language).
- What should I watch out for?
- Beratungshilfe covers advice and representation outside of court proceedings. According to Service Berlin, Beratungshilfe applies "bis zur endgültigen außergerichtlichen Erledigung der Angelegenheit" (until the matter is finally settled out of court); for court proceedings, Prozesskostenhilfe can be applied for.
- Prozesskostenhilfe and Verfahrenskostenhilfe cover only your own proceedings costs. According to Berlin.de: "Wer unterliegt und dem Gegner Kosten erstatten muss, ist durch die Prozess- oder Verfahrenskostenhilfe nicht geschützt" (whoever loses and has to reimburse the other side's costs is not protected by Prozesskostenhilfe or Verfahrenskostenhilfe).
- The 15-euro personal contribution for Beratungshilfe is named by the Rechtsanwaltskammer and Service Berlin (Service Berlin: "15,00 Euro" for advice and representation by a lawyer is "possible"). Whether and when the personal contribution is waived in an individual case: no confirmed information is available for this.
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