The reform of the Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz has been put into force on August 1st, 2013
By: Rechtsanwalt (Attorney) Carsten Lexa, LL.M.
On August 1st, 2013, the RVG (“Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz” = German Attorney Remuneration Law) has been put into force. The RVG exists since July 1st, 2004 and superseded the Bundesrechtsanwaltgebührenordnung (German Federal Code of Lawyers’ Fees = BRAGO). Most attorneys do their statement of fees on the basis of the regulations of the RVG. Every activity of an attorney is subject to the RVG unless there are other agreements concluded between the attorney and the client (such agreements are the standard for the Rechtsanwaltskanzlei Lexa which does not charge their clients on the basis of the RVG).
It is interesting to know that the fees of German attorneys haven’t been raised since 1994 (!) (nor by introducing the RVG in 2004) which has been led to a real loss of income because of the inflation in Germany. By reforming the RVG the charges has been raised by 7 to 14%. But this can’t compensate the currency devaluation during the last 20 years.
The increase of fees of the attorneys is accompanied by other fee increases, for example regarding the fees of notaries, because the legislator is carrying out a reform of the 2nd Kostenrechtmodernisierungsgesetz (German Refurbishment of the whole Laws of Costs = KostRMoG) (BT.-Drucks. 17/11471). Simultaneously the Prozesskosten- and Verfahrenskostenhilfe (German egal aid = PKH) has been renewed by changing the Prozesskostenhilferecht (German Legal Aid Law) and the Beratungshilferecht (German Legal Advice Law).
For inquiries please contact the author: kontakt@kanzlei-lexa.de (www.kanzlei-lexa.de)
