Public legal information and mediation service

Public Legal Information General Information

The Public Legal Information Service (ÖRA) offers legal advice on all legal matters. Further information is available here.

Detailed description

In Hamburg, there is no eligibility certificate for legal aid, as is common in other federal states. If you qualify, you can instead contact the Public Legal Advice Service (ÖRA) directly if you need out-of-court legal advice.


ÖRA offers legal advice and dispute mediation by experienced specialists in almost all areas of law.


For disputes over tenancies, contracts, or claims, the ÖRA can, for example, conduct out-of-court dispute resolution. The ÖRA also mediates in criminal proceedings. Furthermore, the ÖRA offers mediation, particularly for conflicts in family and inheritance matters, or in employment and business matters.


Please note that the ÖRA cannot represent you in court. Should legal proceedings become necessary, the ÖRA will also advise you on the possibility of applying for legal aid or procedural costs assistance. It will also assist you in finding a suitable lawyer for your specific case.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • Your income and assets are low and fall below the statutory limits. Whether this applies to your personal situation will be assessed on an individual basis.
  • You live in Hamburg or you work in Hamburg and need legal advice regarding this employment relationship.
  • You have not yet hired a lawyer.
  • You are not a member of a trade union or interest group (e.g. tenants' association) through which you could obtain legal advice.
  • You do not have legal protection insurance

Documents required

  • all documents relating to the legal case (e.g. contracts, deeds, letters, invoices, receipts)
  • Evidence of your current income and assets (e.g. pay slips, benefit notices, bank statements)

Please note

If you are dissatisfied with a consultation at ÖRA, you can submit a written complaint. Please briefly describe what you disliked, including the date, location, and, if applicable, the name of the advisor. ÖRA will review your complaint and respond to your correspondence.

Deadlines

You can generally seek advice at any time if you have legal questions or problems. However, it's a good idea to seek information early on so you don't miss legal steps or case-specific deadlines.

Procedure

  • You can make an appointment by phone at (040) 42843-3072. If you are deaf, you can contact us via email at Rechtsberatung.oera@soziales.hamburg.de.
  • The ÖRA consultations take place at the ÖRA headquarters (Dammtorstraße 14) and the district offices.
  • You can also book initial consultation appointments in the areas of labor law, tenancy law, immigration law, and criminal law at the ÖRA headquarters online. Information can be found under "Links."
  • You prepare all important documents and information about your legal problem for the consultation and bring them with you to the appointment.
  • The ÖRA will check whether you meet the requirements to receive advice, particularly with regard to your income and assets.
  • During the appointment, you will discuss your concerns with an experienced counselor.
  • If your issue requires dispute resolution, ÖRA will mediate between the parties or organize mediation.
  • If legal proceedings become necessary, the ÖRA will inform you about legal aid options and assist you in finding a suitable lawyer.
  • After the consultation, you can arrange further appointments if necessary or take the next steps independently.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the nature of your request

Fees

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 cannot be done over the phone.

Legal remedies

Not applicable

Legal basis

Not applicable

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Public legal information and mediation service

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"

Hinweis zum Briefkasten:

Die ÖRA hat keinen eigenen Briefkasten. Ein persönlicher Einwurf ist daher nicht möglich.

Ausschließlich für Güteanträge kann der Briefkasten der „Gemeinsamen Antragsstelle des Ziviljustizgebäudes“ genutzt werden: 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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Last updated: 16.05.2026