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Lawyers in Saxony-Anhalt: Alarming decline threatens rural regions!
The situation for lawyers in Jerichower Land is getting worse: Falling numbers and a lack of young talent are endangering legal services.
Lawyers in Saxony-Anhalt: Alarming decline threatens rural regions!
In Saxony-Anhalt, the shortage of lawyers is becoming increasingly noticeable. As MZ.de reports, the number of practicing lawyers fell from 1,757 in 2016 to currently around 1,400. This decline has particularly serious consequences in rural regions, where there is an increasing shortage of lawyers. The few lawyers that exist are mostly based in the cities of Magdeburg and Halle, where most of the new registrations take place.
The Saxony-Anhalt Bar Association is sounding the alarm. Christian Lisec, managing director of the chamber, points out that the lack of young talent in rural areas is becoming a serious problem. It is estimated that around 500 lawyers will retire in the next decade, which could further worsen the situation. The chamber already organizes regional conferences to encourage young lawyers to become self-employed in rural areas. The next such event is planned at the Stendal Regional Court and has already received around 60 registrations.
The challenges for young lawyers
An example of the explosive situation is Genthin in Jerichower Land, where after the death of a lawyer there are only six lawyers left, whose average age is around 70 years. Welt.de describes that this deficiency could lead to Genthin soon being without a lawyer. This would mean that citizens seeking justice would have to travel longer distances to other cities to receive legal support.
A solution here could be the idea of young lawyers joining the law firm of a retiring lawyer and later taking over. However, it is clear that young lawyers lack the willingness to take risks and become self-employed. Instead, many prefer secure employment in the civil service, where the country readily offers jobs to graduates. According to forecasts, around 390 active judges and public prosecutors will leave Saxony-Anhalt by 2033.
A nationwide trend
If you take a look at the nationwide development, an opposite trend can be seen: the number of lawyers in Germany has increased and amounted to 169,388 in 2023, compared to 167,085 in 2022. This raises the question of why Saxony-Anhalt is falling behind here, while other federal states, such as Hesse or Bavaria, are benefiting from a booming use of lawyers.
While the debate about the shortage of lawyers in Saxony-Anhalt continues to escalate, the Bar Association is committed to strengthening the children and youth sector with targeted programs. The regional conferences are already a first step towards raising awareness of the topic and promoting talented lawyers in rural areas.
Specialist lawyers from the region
The legal landscape in Saxony-Anhalt is also characterized by the diversity of specialist areas. Law firms like Dr. Troeger & Schultz in Stendal or the law firm Simona Rössing in Staßfurt provide support in various legal areas. Here is an overview of some law firms:
| Law firm | Location | Areas of expertise |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Troeger & Schultz | Stendal | Family law, insurance law, traffic law |
| Law firm Simona Rössing | Staßfurt | Labor law, family law |
| Braun & Schwede law firm | Ballenstedt | Family law, inheritance law, traffic law |
| Marco Slotta law firm | Stendal | Traffic law, criminal law, family law |
It remains to be seen how the situation will develop further. The pressure to act is high and one can only hope that initiatives to recruit new lawyers will bear fruit. In a society in which law plays a central role, it is crucial that there are enough capable lawyers available, especially in the rural regions of Saxony-Anhalt.