Hamburg.deHamburg ServicePublic legal advice, ÖRAPublic legal information and comparison office

Public legal information and comparison office

Public legal advice, ÖRA

The Public Legal Advice Service (ÖRA) offers you legal advice on all legal questions. It is aimed at people who live in Hamburg and have a low income.

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Detailed description

The Public Legal Advice Service, ÖRA, offers legal advice on all legal issues by experienced specialists for people who live in Hamburg and have only a low income.
Consultations take place at the ÖRA headquarters (Dammtorstraße 14) and at the district offices by prior appointment.
The ÖRA also offers out-of-court dispute resolution
- in civil law matters for all natural and legal persons inside and outside Hamburg. Settlement negotiations in cases of complicated legal situations and high amounts in dispute are led by special chairpersons. The application suspends the statute of limitations. The negotiated settlements are enforceable titles.
- In criminal proceedings, the ÖRA mediates if the accused person lives in Hamburg.
- ÖRA uses mediation to help in particular with escalated family and inheritance law conflicts as well as with disputes in work and business life. All mediators are certified (BAFM/BM). The service is open to everyone.


Certificate of eligibility for legal advice: The certificate of eligibility for legal advice from a lawyer prior to legal proceedings, which may be known from other federal states, does not exist in Hamburg. Under the above conditions, advice from the ÖRA is possible in Hamburg.
Legal aid / procedural aid: If a legal dispute becomes unavoidable, the ÖRA will advise you on the possibility of applying for legal aid / procedural aid. The advisors will also explain to you how you can find a competent lawyer or specialist lawyer for your specific case, as the ÖRA cannot represent you in court.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • - low income and only small assets
    (The income limits are based on the Social Code, Book Twelve (SGB XII)).
    The calculation is made individually based on the personal situation.)
    - living in Hamburg
    - Work in Hamburg and legal advice is needed for this employment relationship
    - no lawyer has been appointed in this matter
    - no membership in trade unions or interest groups (e.g. tenants' associations) through which one can obtain legal advice
    - there is no legal protection insurance

Documents required

For legal advice, you must bring all documents relating to the legal case, as well as current proof of income and proof of expenses (e.g. for rent and maintenance payments, necessary insurance).

Please note

The ÖRA consultations are only available at the ÖRA headquarters (Dammtorstrasse 14) and the district offices after prior appointments have been made by telephone – telephone number (040) 42843-3072. Initial consultation appointments in the legal areas of employment law, tenancy law, migration law and criminal law at the ÖRA headquarters can also be booked online. Information can be found under the link "Consultations by appointment only"
Information on out-of-court conciliation procedures can be obtained by calling +49 40 42843-4152 or visiting the ÖRA homepage (see links).

Complaints about advice in the ÖRA
If you have any complaints about a consultation at the ÖRA, you can write to the ÖRA: briefly describe what you didn't like, as well as the date, place and, if applicable, the advisor or other person who was involved. The ÖRA will then respond.

Deaf people can receive information via the email address Rechtsberatung.oera@soziales.hamburg.de

Fees



The fees are based on the ÖRA fee schedule, which can be viewed on the website (see links). The specific fees can only be determined on site, after reviewing the documents. This is not possible over the phone.

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Public legal information and comparison office

The advice of the ÖRA takes place at the main office (Dammtorstrasse 14) only after prior tel. Appointments can be made: (040) 42843-3072. In district offices, counseling only takes place by appointment. Info: "District offices of the ÖRA"

Note on the mailbox:


The ÖRA does not have its own mailbox. A personal throw-in is therefore not possible.


The mailbox of the “Joint Application Office of the Civil Justice Building” can only be used for conciliation applications : Sievekingplatz 1, 20354 Hamburg During your stay in the ÖRA, you are asked to wear an FFP2 mask to protect yourself and others. The hygiene rules that are still in force must also be observed.

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Keywords: ÖRA, main office Public legal information and comparison office Mediation Arbitration Dispute settlement Approval request Quality procedure Advice slip Lawyer advice for low-income citizens ÖRA Legal aid Legal advice in the ÖRA Arbitration boards Ombudsman in HH

Last updated: 19.04.2025