Frequently asked questions

The German Legal Tech Hub is the curated network for legal tech and legal AI in Germany. We bring together lawyers, in-house counsel, legal tech companies, the judiciary and public administration – to connect, learn from one another and shape the future of the legal industry together.

Nationwide. Based in Hannover; events and meetings take place in cities across Germany and online – in 13 cities so far in 2026.

For everyone working in law who wants to put technology to good use: law firms of all sizes, legal departments, the judiciary and public administration, Legal Tech providers, as well as students and trainee lawyers. The formats are designed to bring users and providers into direct conversation.

You can book open formats such as the Roadshows directly in the calendar. For curated formats such as the Inner Circle, you request a place. Members also use focus groups, the concierge service and their benefits, such as Summit tickets.

The German Legal Tech Summit is the annual flagship event in Hannover, hosted by German Legal Tech Summit GmbH. The Hub is the year-round network: Roadshows, Inner Circle, focus groups, Academy and concierge. In 2026, the Summit takes place on 3 December at the HCC Hannover.

Only under the conditions set out in § 43e BRAO: access must be necessary for the service, the provider must be carefully selected and contractually bound in text form to confidentiality. For providers abroad, the level of protection for confidential information must be comparable; if the service directly concerns an individual mandate, the client’s consent is required. The BRAK recommends, wherever possible, only making abstract enquiries and anonymising documents beforehand – simply removing names is often not enough.

According to guidance from the BRAK (as at December 2024), there is no general professional-conduct obligation to do so. However, obligations may arise from the contract or from competition law. The BRAK recommends a transparent approach and, where in doubt, a contractual arrangement.

As a general rule, not within law firms. Annex III No. 8 of the AI Act covers AI systems that assist judicial authorities in establishing and interpreting facts and law – not the legal profession. Regardless of this, the obligation to ensure AI literacy (Art. 4) and the transparency obligations (Art. 50) still apply.

The German Legal Tech Hub is a GmbH based in Hannover. Its managing directors are Jörg Offenhausen, Dr Benedikt Epe Quarch and Dietmar Neidig; the initiators also include Thorsten Ramus, Matthias Hunecke and Roger Cericius. You can find the full team and Advisory Board under Team.

There is no fixed threshold. What matters is whether many contracts of the same type arise and whether coordinated templates are in place. Check whether maintaining the templates is in reasonable proportion to the number of contracts – and who is responsible for that maintenance.

No. Where the law requires written form, only the electronic form with a qualified electronic signature can replace a signature (§ 126a BGB). For some declarations, the electronic form is entirely excluded, for example when terminating an employment relationship (§ 623 BGB). Where no form is prescribed, or text form suffices, simpler methods are enough.

Legally, this is not prohibited by any general rule, but the responsibility remains with you. It is common practice for AI to flag deviations from your own playbook and for lawyers to decide on these deviations. Anyone who approves contracts fully automatically should clearly define the limits and provide for spot checks.

Yes, just on a smaller scale. A single point of contact for enquiries, straightforward billing rules for external law firms, and two or three key figures already create an overview. A dedicated legal operations role isn’t necessary for this.

Where the system is capable of monitoring employees' conduct or performance, an existing works council has a right of co-determination (§ 87(1) No. 6 BetrVG). This should be reviewed regularly for systems that record processing times per person. Clarify this early with HR and the works council.

Often this involves taking stock of the AI systems in use, implementing AI literacy measures under Art. 4 AI Act (in force since February 2025), the transparency obligations under Art. 50 (in force since August 2026), and preparing for high-risk applications, for example in HR. Following the amendment to the AI Act, these obligations apply from 2 December 2027.

German Legal Tech Hub GmbH, based in Hannover, is led by Co-Managing Directors Dr Benedikt Epe Quarch, Jörg Offenhausen and Dietmar Neidig. Since July 2026, the Hub has been funded as an innovation network by the European Union (ERDF) and the State of Lower Saxony.

For legal tech providers (Partner – Provider), for law firms and companies (Partner – Corporate/Law Firm, up to four named individuals), for individuals, and at a reduced rate for public authorities and the judiciary and for students and trainee lawyers. Strategic network partnerships and start-up terms are available on request.

Employees of public authorities, the judiciary and the public sector, as well as students and trainee lawyers. Both memberships are for one person each and include the same benefits as the personal membership.

Depending on the package: Summit tickets, priority access to Roadshows, access to Inner Circle formats, CPD hours under § 15 FAO, matchmaking and Concierge, and access to the network. You’ll find the benefits of each package in the comparison.

You upload the proof when booking – for example, a certificate of enrolment or a confirmation from your employer. We check it before activation.

Unless otherwise agreed, the minimum term is 12 months. It is extended by a further 12 months unless terminated with 3 months’ notice to the end of the respective term.

In writing or by e-mail to info@germanlegaltechhub.com, with three months’ notice to the end of the term. The right to extraordinary termination for good cause remains unaffected.

This depends on who is becoming a member: legal tech providers choose Partner – Provider. Law firms, legal departments and companies wishing to involve several people choose Partner – Corporate/Law Firm, with up to four named individuals. Anyone booking for themselves chooses Individual network membership – discounted for public authorities and the judiciary as well as for students and legal trainees. If in doubt, Dietmar Neidig will be glad to advise you: Arrange a call.

Online in four steps: choose a package, provide organisation and participant details, select a payment method, review your details. Once submitted, your booking goes to our team. It becomes valid once we confirm it by e-mail; payment is only collected after that. You will receive the membership agreement by e-mail after our review and sign it online. Go to booking

The personal area for members. Here you register for events and use your allowances, join focus groups, see the status of your concierge requests, and find documents and certificates. Named individuals receive an invitation after booking.

No. With the Partner – Corporate/Law Firm membership, you enter up to four people from your organisation when booking, or add them later. Each named person receives an invitation to “My Hub” and uses the Summit ticket and training there.

You will receive the contract by e-mail after our review and sign it online. If someone other than the person making the booking will be signing – for example, a managing director – please provide their name, role and e-mail address when booking.

Yes. Special membership terms apply for start-ups; get in touch for a tailored offer. The Summit also features the Start-up Pitch Trophy – find out more under Start-ups.

Yes. For international companies, the Hub supports market entry into Germany. Dietmar Neidig will personally advise you on the right membership or partnership for this: Arrange a call.

Terms are available on request. We tailor the scope and services individually with you, which is why the partnership cannot be booked online. Discuss a partnership

For providers, companies and large law firms who want to help shape the legal tech ecosystem in Germany: visible at all events and formats, with a guaranteed speaker slot at the Summit and a strategic say in shaping the Hub.

The membership fee is payable annually in advance. According to the terms and conditions, payment can be made by direct debit, credit card or bank transfer. All prices are exclusive of statutory VAT.

Per year, net, plus 19% VAT:
Partner – Provider: €5,000
Partner – Corporate/Law Firm: €3,000
Individual network member: €650
Public authorities and judiciary: €99
Students and trainee lawyers: €99
Strategic network partnerships and start-up terms are available on request.

Annually. The membership fee is payable annually in advance. Unless otherwise agreed, the minimum term is 12 months.

Yes – once we’ve reviewed your booking, you’ll receive confirmation along with an invoice or payment link by e-mail. The invoice is issued to the organisation you provide when booking. On request, it can be sent to a separate billing e-mail address, for example your accounts department, and will show your order number.

Regional, curated industry get-togethers in cities across Germany – an evening of practical insights, discussion and networking.

About the calendar: for open-format events, you register directly; for curated formats such as the Inner Circle, you request a place. Members register via “My Hub”, drawing on their allocated quotas.

Both. The Summit, roadshows and Inner Circle take place in person. Focus groups, webinars and TÜV seminars mostly run online, with some sessions also held in person. The location and format for each date are listed in the calendar.

The German Legal Tech Summit 2026 takes place on 3 December 2026 at the Eilenriedehalle in the HCC Hannover. Depending on their package, members receive Summit tickets included. Find out more at German Legal Tech Summit.

Yes. Open formats such as the Roadshows can be booked directly via the calendar. For curated formats like the Inner Circle, you can request a place. Focus groups, CPD hours, Concierge and included Summit tickets are part of the membership.

Yes. Members can host Roadshows and Inner Circle events on their premises – with the programme, invitations and support provided by the Hub. Enquire about hosting

Confidential dinners and salons for decision-makers from law, technology and innovation – with 10 to 20 participants and under the Chatham House Rule. Every membership includes access to Inner Circle events. Places are strictly limited: you request a place, and we review each request individually. To the Inner Circle

Yes. With the Partner – Provider membership, you receive a 10% discount on the Summit exhibitor stand. Dietmar Neidig will be happy to answer any questions about stands and booking: Arrange a call.

The Inner Circle is aimed at decision-makers from law, technology and innovation – from law firms, legal departments and companies, as well as from legal tech and AI providers. Participation is by application and confirmation only, as each round is deliberately curated.

Whatever is said on the evening may be used freely by all participants afterwards. Who said what, and for which organisation, is never disclosed – and the same applies to every other guest. This allows everyone to speak openly about their experiences, including the difficult ones.

All memberships include access to exclusive Inner Circle events. Places for each evening are limited. Our comparison shows which membership suits you.

In the ticket shop on this website. Your contracting partner is German Legal Tech Summit GmbH as organiser. Depending on their package, members receive Summit tickets included.

With the “Partner – Provider” membership, you receive two Summit tickets and a 10% discount on an exhibition stand. Strategic network partners are guaranteed a speaker slot at the Summit. We’re happy to advise you on stands and partnership.

In three steps: you describe your requirements, we identify suitable partners within the network, and we arrange personal introductions and demo appointments.

No. Matchmaking and the concierge service are free for members and one of the core benefits of membership.

You can submit your enquiry via the contact form. We usually respond to messages within two working days. As a member, you can see the status of your enquiry in “My Hub”.

Yes. The Concierge works for both sides: providers gain access to relevant users and decision-makers – through personal introductions rather than cold outreach. The “Partner – Provider” membership includes visibility within the network and matchmaking.

As a member, you can track the status of your enquiries in “My Hub”. We generally respond to messages sent via the contact form within two working days.

Participants in Academy courses receive a certificate of attendance under § 15 FAO. A certificate of attendance under § 15 FAO is also issued for participation in the German Legal Tech Summit.

No. According to the European Commission’s questions and answers, no certificate is required, and the knowledge does not need to be measured. It is sufficient to document the measures taken internally. A certificate or proof of attendance can still be a useful building block.

Live formats and self-study courses on AI and Legal Tech, developed in partnership with, among others, TÜV Rheinland. From the programme so far: Legal Tech Fundamentals (live, 2 FAO hours), AI in Legal Advice (live, 2 FAO hours), Contract Management (self-study, 1.5 FAO hours) and Legal Operations (self-study, 2 FAO hours). Dates and registration for the 2027 course programme will follow on the Academy page.

No. Regulation (EU) 2026/1744 clarified Art. 4: providers and deployers must take measures to promote the AI literacy of their staff; they do not need to guarantee a specific level for individual people. The obligation has applied since 2 February 2025.

Five hours a year via the Academy – included in the Individual Network Member, Public Authorities and Judiciary, Students and Trainee Lawyers, and Partner – Corporate/Law Firm memberships. The Partner – Provider membership does not include CPD hours. Members receive a 10% discount on further Academy courses.

Yes, if you use the AI system professionally under your own responsibility, you are a deployer within the meaning of the Regulation (Art. 3 No. 4 AI Act). The scope and depth of the measures required depend on the use case and the level of risk – a translation function requires less than a system that drafts pleadings.

Yes. Certificates of attendance under § 15 FAO are issued for Academy courses and for participation in the German Legal Tech Summit. Members can find documents and certificates in “My Hub”. Specialist lawyers submit the certificate themselves to their bar association.

Generally, the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) as the market surveillance authority (§ 2 KI-MIG). Where public bodies of the German federal states use AI, the authorities designated under state law are responsible. Oversight and enforcement by the national authorities began on 2 August 2026.

The Hub's training programme on AI and legal tech – for lawyers, legal operations managers and anyone looking to develop professionally. A certificate of attendance under § 15 FAO is issued for the courses. More at Academy.

We issue a certificate of attendance under § 15 FAO. Whether the event is recognised for your specialist field is decided by your regional bar association – the FAO requires training in the relevant specialist area. If in doubt, check with your bar association beforehand.

Under § 15(4) FAO, up to five of the required minimum 15 hours per year, provided a learning assessment is carried out. For self-study, you must provide proof of both a certificate and a learning assessment.

Individual membership, membership for authorities and the judiciary, membership for students and trainee lawyers (Referendare), and corporate/law firm membership each include five hours of training per year; for corporate/law firm memberships, the named individuals use these hours. Members also receive 10% off further courses.

The 2027 course programme is being prepared; we will publish dates and registration details as soon as they are confirmed. Until then, the German Legal Tech Summit and our online formats offer opportunities for further training.

Focus groups meet regularly, online or in person, to share experiences on a specific topic – for example for small and medium-sized law firms, legal departments, or public administration and the judiciary.

Focus groups are open to members; you join via “My Hub”. The groups meet regularly, online or in person, and receive materials and updates. You’ll find the next meetings under Online formats.

Only within narrow limits. An administrative act may be issued entirely by automated means if a legal provision permits this and there is no discretion or margin of assessment involved (§ 35a VwVfG). In addition, Art. 22 GDPR and, depending on the system, the obligations of the AI Act must be observed. In practice, AI usually prepares decisions, and humans decide.

For high-risk systems under Annex III – including AI systems used to support courts and to assess claims for public benefits – from 2 December 2027. The original deadline was 2 August 2026; it was postponed by Regulation (EU) 2026/1744. Transparency obligations and AI literacy requirements already apply.

Everyone engaged with AI in public administration is invited – from public administration, the judiciary, academia or business. The sessions take place online; you'll receive the link after registering via the calendar.

It depends on the group. Openly advertised sessions – such as those of the “AI-supported administrative procedures” focus group – are booked via the calendar. Focus groups for members are joined via “My Hub”.

The “AI-supported administrative procedures” focus group meets via Microsoft Teams; you will receive the link after registering. No need to travel.

Yes. New participants are explicitly welcome in the “AI-supported administrative procedures” focus group, even if they haven’t attended the previous session.