fao-fortbildungsnachweis

/berufsrecht-anwaltschaft:fao-fortbildungsnachweis

Purpose

The skill checks whether a specialist lawyer has fulfilled the continuing education obligation under § 15 FAO, lists formats that can and cannot be recognized, and drafts the statement to the competent bar association (RAK) or the statement of claim against a revocation order under § 25 FAO. It captures the cumulative obligation for multiple specialist lawyer titles and the limits of § 15(4) FAO on self-study.

Inputs

Specialist lawyer title(s) of the client (e.g., labor law, tax law, …)
Calendar year / reporting period (usually calendar year)
List of completed continuing education with format, number of hours, organizer, certificate
Own teaching/lecturing or publication activity (§ 15(3) FAO)
Status of the RAK proceedings (random sample request, hearing, revocation order)
if applicable, hearing deadline / VwGO appeal deadline in conjunction with § 112c BRAO

Sub-agent architecture

Researcher provides FAO norms, BGH-Anwaltssenat case law on recognizable formats and § 25 FAO revocation, the standard commentary Offermann-Burckart as well as BRAK-Mitteilungen on recognition practice (online events since 2020 — transitional/permanent practice [unverifiziert]). Drafter prepares the proof list and statement to the RAK or statement of claim. Reviewer checks the hours calculation (cumulative per specialist area), completeness of certificates, the self-study limit under § 15(4) FAO and the challenge deadlines.

Procedure

1. Mandatory scope § 15(1) FAO

15 time hours per calendar year per specialist area. For multiple specialist lawyer titles, cumulative — anyone who is a specialist lawyer for labor and tax law owes 30 hours per year, divided by specialist area (BGH-Anwaltssenat line [unverifiziert]). A cross-specialist-area event can be credited proportionally to several specialist areas if the content is relevant in each case and the allocation is shown in the certificate.

2. Recognizable formats § 15(2)–(3) FAO

Passive participation in courses / continuing education events with a certificate of participation (para. 2)
Lecturing activity (para. 3) — preparation and presentation are recognized; in practice: lecture hour + reasonable preparation hours (rule of thumb: 1 lecture hour = 2–3 preparation hours, depending on the individual case)
Academic publication (para. 3) — relevant articles; crediting according to scope and depth (RAK practice variable [unverifiziert])
Self-study § 15(4) FAO — at most half of the mandatory hours (i.e., up to 7.5 hours/specialist area), with a learning outcome check

Not recognizable are purely promotional events, sales training, general law firm management training without a substantive specialist focus.

3. Online events

Since 2020, the recognition of online courses with an interactive element has become firmly established; pure recordings without any possibility of interaction fall under § 15(4) FAO (self-study) with the halving limit [unverifiziert – prüfen in BRAK-Mitteilungen und juris]. The certificate must state the course format, number of hours and attendance/learning success assessment.

4. Proof vis-à-vis the RAK

The obligation to unsolicited submission does not exist (prevailing opinion); the RAK requests proof on a random basis or as the occasion arises. Upon request:

List of all courses per subject area
Certificates in original / copy
For teaching activity: course program + manuscript if applicable
For publication: voucher copy
The RAK usually sets a deadline of 4 weeks — extendable

5. Consequences of insufficient further training — § 25 FAO

If the obligation is not fulfilled may the RAK revoke the specialist lawyer designation (§ 25(1) FAO; bound decision with limited discretion [unverifiziert]). A proportionality review is mandatory — catching up within the current year can avert revocation if the RAK grants the opportunity.

Procedural law aspects:

Hearing (§ 28 VwVfG in conjunction with § 32 BRAO)
Revocation decision as an administrative act
Action before the Anwaltsgerichtshof (§ 112c BRAO in conjunction with VwGO; one-month action period § 74 VwGO)
Suspensive effect of the action (§ 80(1) VwGO) — generally given, insofar as no immediate enforcement

6. Re-conferral after revocation

After revocation, a re-conferral is possible as soon as the requirements (in particular renewed practical experience § 5 FAO and course § 4 FAO supplemented if applicable) exist again. High hurdle, therefore take defense against revocation seriously.

Sources and citation style

Binding: ../../../references/zitierweise.md.

Statute / By-laws

§ 43c BRAO (use of the specialist lawyer designation)
§ 2 FAO (subject areas)
§ 4 FAO (acquisition)
§ 5 FAO (special practical experience)
§ 14 FAO (course)
§ 15 FAO (further training obligation)
§ 25 FAO (revocation of specialist lawyer designation)
§ 112c BRAO (proceedings before the AGH, reference to VwGO)
§ 74 VwGO (action period 1 month)

Commentaries

Offermann-Burckart, Fachanwalt werden und bleiben, 5th ed. 2023, § 15 FAO marginal no. 1 ff., § 25 FAO marginal no. 1 ff.
Henssler, in: Henssler/Prütting, BRAO, 6th ed. 2024, § 43c marginal no. 1 ff.; § 15 FAO marginal no. 1 ff.
Träger, in: Feuerich/Weyland, BRAO, 11th ed. 2024, § 43c BRAO marginal no. 1 ff.

Case law (`[unverifiziert – prüfen in juris/Beck-Online/BRAK-Mitteilungen]`)

BGH-Anwaltssenat, order of … – AnwZ (Brfg) …/…, NJW JJJJ, p. (recognition of teaching activity under § 15(3) FAO)
BGH Senate for Lawyers' Disciplinary Matters, order of … – AnwZ (Brfg) …/…, BRAK-Mitt. YYYY, p. (revocation under § 25 FAO for falling short)
AGH Berlin / Munich, judgment of … (proportionality of revocation)
BVerfG, order of … – 1 BvR …, NJW YYYY, p. (Art. 12 GG / specialist lawyer title)

Output format

NACHWEIS / STELLUNGNAHME — § 15 FAO
Fachanwaltsbezeichnung(en): <…>     Berichtsjahr: <JJJJ>
RAK: <…>                            Datum: <TT.MM.JJJJ>

I. Sachverhalt
   - Fachanwaltsbezeichnungen, Verleihungsdatum
   - Anlass der Prüfung (Stichprobe / Anhörung / Widerrufsbescheid)

II. Pflichtumfang § 15 FAO
    – 15 Std. × Anzahl Fachgebiete = <X> Std./Jahr

III. Aufstellung der Fortbildung (je Fachgebiet)
     Fachgebiet 1: <Bezeichnung>
       Datum | Format | Veranstalter | Stunden | Bescheinigung
       ...
     Summe: <X> Std.
     Fachgebiet 2: <…>

IV. Subsumtion
    – Hörende Teilnahme (Abs. 2): <…>
    – Dozierende Tätigkeit (Abs. 3): <…>
    – Publikation (Abs. 3): <…>
    – Selbststudium (Abs. 4, Halbierungs-Grenze): <…>

V. Ergebnis
   – Pflicht erfüllt / teilweise erfüllt / nicht erfüllt
   – Bei Lücke: Nachholmöglichkeit im Berichts- oder Folgejahr

VI. Bei Widerrufsbescheid § 25 FAO:
    – Anfechtung zum AGH (§ 112c BRAO, § 74 VwGO — 1 Monat)
    – Aufschiebende Wirkung § 80 VwGO
    – Verhältnismäßigkeitsargumente, Nachholangebot

VII. Risikoeinstufung
     🟢 / 🟡 / 🔴 mit Begründung

VIII. Quellenverzeichnis

Example (excerpt in expert-opinion style)

Facts: The client is a specialist lawyer for employment law and for tax law. In reporting year 2024 he completed 12 hours of in-person employment law course, 8 hours of online employment law event (with learning outcome assessment), two essays (20 manuscript pages each) in employment law, and 9 hours of in-person tax law course.

Assessment: In employment law there are 12 + 8 = 20 hours from attendance-based participation; the requirement of 15 hours is met (§ 15 paras. 1, 2 FAO). The two essays under § 15 para. 3 FAO are no longer required to be hour-effective, but should be submitted as evidence, since the RAK reviews the crediting of online hours in cases of doubt. In tax law there are only 9 hours — shortfall of 6 hours. The client must make up these hours in the reporting year or — if that is no longer possible — ask the RAK for a catch-up period in the following year and rely on proportionality (§ 25 FAO). In the event of revocation, an action would have to be brought before the AGH within 1 month (§ 112c BRAO in conjunction with § 74 VwGO).

Result: 🟡 — requirement met in employment law, gap in tax law; prioritize making up the hours, if necessary RAK statement.

Risks / typical mistakes

Overlooking the cumulative requirement for multiple specialist lawyer designations — 15 hrs. per specialist area, not 15 hrs. in total.
Online events without learning outcome assessment counted as equivalent to in-person — fall under § 15 para. 4 FAO with a halving limit.
Self-study hours beyond half counted — limited by § 15 para. 4 FAO.
Certificate without provider information / number of hours / date — not accepted by the RAK.
Teaching activity without documented preparation — preparation hours may not be recognized.
Hearing/appeal period § 74 VwGO (1 month) elapsed — revocation notice final, specialist lawyer title lost.
Advertising with lost specialist lawyer title after revocation — violation of § 43b BRAO + § 6 BORA + § 5 UWG.