Fachanwaltsfortbildung
Mandatory qualification points for specialist lawyers under § 15 FAO
What is a Fachanwalt?
A Fachanwalt is a lawyer with official recognition of specialization in a specific field of law (such as labor law, family law, criminal law, tax law, etc.), after meeting the requirements for experience, case numbers, and specialized training courses.
Number of currently recognized Fachanwalt fields: 24 legal specializations
What is the annual obligation under § 15 FAO?
Each Fachanwalt must prove that they have completed 15 hours per year of specialist Weiterbildung in their recognized field.
How can these hours be fulfilled?
| Type of Fortbildung | Counts toward hours? | Special conditions? |
|---|---|---|
| Participation in seminars | Yes, in-person or online | Must be related to the specialization |
| Legal conferences | Yes, if they include specialist content | Proof of attendance duration is required |
| Recognized self-study | Yes, via approved platforms | A knowledge test afterward is required |
| Academic publishing (Fachartikel) | Yes, if published in a legal journal/platform | Counts as an alternative educational contribution |
| Free reading | No | Does not count toward the 15 hours |
How is Fortbildung proven?
The lawyer should keep:
a certificate of participation (Teilnahmebescheinigung)
course details (topic, speaker, duration)
date and learning format (online / in-person)
if it is an article: proof of publication
The review is carried out annually by the Rechtsanwaltskammer (RAK), and evidence must be provided upon request.
Examples of recognized Fortbildung providers
DeutscheAnwaltAkademie (DAA)
Haufe Akademie / ZAP-Verlag
Juris Fortbildung Online
BeckAkademie Seminare
Anwaltsinstitut GmbH
RAK events
Suggested schedule to distribute annual Fortbildung hours
| Period | Suggested activity | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Jan – Mar | Recognized online course in your field (e.g., family law) | 5 |
| Apr – Jun | Legal conference + lecture (in-person) | 5 |
| Jul – Dec | Write a specialist article for a legal journal | 5 |
| Total | 15 |
What if I do not complete 15 hours?
You may receive a request from the RAK to prove your Weiterbildung.
With ongoing non-compliance, the Fachanwalt title may be withdrawn.
A minor delay can often be remedied with a valid justification (e.g., illness or workload).
Summary
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual Weiterbildung hours | 15 specialist hours |
| Official proof | Attendance certificates, publication proof, test results |
| Formats | Online, in-person, article |
| Monitoring | By the RAK |
| Consequences | Warning or withdrawal of the title |
ـ* The writers and editors on the website strive to provide accurate information through intensive research and consulting multiple sources; however, errors may occur or unconfirmed information may appear. Therefore, please treat the information as an initial reference and always consult the competent authorities for confirmed information.
