FAQ
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the Forum Recht Foundation
What is the Forum Recht Foundation?
The Forum Recht Foundation was established by law of the German Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) in May 2019. Its main objective is to provide information and engage with the public throughout Germany on matters of law and the constitutional stated governed by the rule of law.
The programs we develop are meant to spark curiosity about these topics as well as create opportunities for people to share their everyday experiences involving the law and the legal system. We offer information, ask questions, and initiate dialogue to make both law and the rule of law more concrete. This also means highlighting their importance as a common basis for living together in a free and vibrant democracy with a stable economic systemy. Since many of the Foundation's activities are designed to encourage participation, we welcome everyone to take part and contribute.
The Foundation has two locations: one in Karlsruhe and another in Leipzig, where iconic new buildings will eventually be constructed to serve as future spaces for exchange, information, and mediationdiscourse. And tTo ensure that we can reach people and communities throughout Germany, we will continue to expand and diversify our a virtual presence, too.
Why was the foundation established?
Though law and the rule of law shape our everyday lives and social coexistence within a diverse society, they are generally invisible or taken for granted. Moreover, current developments show that the rule of law has come under pressure in both Germany and around the world. The risk of an erosion of confidence in the law and its institutions is real.
This is where the Foundation's work comes in: Its mission is to promote a positive awareness of the law and the rule of law as well as to strengthen trust in them. This is why the Forum Recht Foundation addresses current issues relating to the law and the rule of law, develops programs that facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue, provides information, and addresses the law as an everyday experience for everyone.
Where is the Forum Recht Foundation active?
The Foundation is both based in Karlsruhe and in Leipzig. Home to some of the most important German legal institutions, these two cities are of national legal significance. In addition to the two locations, the Foundation’s mobile formats enable us to be active on a nationwide basis, including a virtual space to expand its offerings and reach.
What are the main functions of the Forum Recht Foundation?
The Forum Recht Foundation is tasked with the creation of formats that address current issues of law and the constitutional stated governed by the rule of law. Meant to serve as a forum, everyone is invited to participate and engage. We want to support exchange by giving everyone the ability to participate, ask questions, and contribute ideas. To this end, the two locations – Karlsruhe and Leipzig – will serve as venues for exhibitions, meetings, events, and the exchange of information. These physical locations will be augmented by our virtual formats.
Moreover, the Forum Recht Foundation’s statutory obligation is to carry out research. Our main aim is to encourage people to engage with issues concerning law and the rule of law by means of dialogue, providing information, and fostering an understanding, sense, and respect for the rule of law as a positive part of their lived reality and a cornerstone of our free democratic society.
How did the Forum Recht Foundation come about?
The Forum Recht Foundation originated from a community initiative by the city of Karlsruhe. The idea for the Forum Recht first emerged as part of the city's bid to become the European Capital of Culture in 2010. A few years later, a private initiative group further developed and pursued the idea of establishing a place where law and the rule of law could be experienced.
In 2016, the German Bundestag approved funding for an initial feasibility study, followed by two specialist symposia in 2018. In 2019, the German Bundestag passed a law to establish the Forum Recht Foundation and chose Leipzig as its second location alongside Karlsruhe. The Foundation moved into its current interim premises in Karlsruhe in the autumn of 2020 and has been active on a variety of fronts since then, including at its interim location in Leipzig since the summer of 2023.
How is the Forum Recht Foundation structured?
The Foundation is comprised of three main bodies: the Board of Trustees, the Directorate, and the Advisory Board. The Board of Trustees decides all fundamental issues concerning the Foundation, the Director manages business affairs, and the Advisory Board advises the Foundation. The members of the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board work for the Forum Recht Foundation on a voluntary basis.
How is the Forum Recht Foundation financed?
The Foundation is mainly financed by an annual allocation from the federal government.
What building projects is the Forum Recht Foundation pursuing?
The key idea behind the Forum Recht Foundation is the construction of two new buildings in Karlsruhe and Leipzig, which will be designed as open interdisciplinary places where people can meet to engage in dialogue, for information and as event venues with a year-round program. In Karlsruhe, the Forum Recht building will be constructed in the immediate vicinity of the of the German Federal Court of Justice (“Bundesgerichtshof”). In Leipzig, a joint building with the Faculty of Law at the University of Leipzig is being planned on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz.
We are already active in interim premises in both locations, where we host events, workshops, and exhibitions. You are more than welcome to visit us at either location: in Karlsruhe: Karlstraße 45 A, and in Leipzig: Universitätsstraße 20.
In Karlsruhe, you can find us at Karlstraße 45 A; in Leipzig, at Universitätsstraße 20.
When will the building projects be completed?
Following the approval of the requirements plans for both sites by the Federal Ministry of Finance in April 2026, preparations for the construction of the buildings are in full swing. International architectural competitions are scheduled for the second half of 2027. A specific date for the start of construction is currently difficult to predict and may vary from location to location. The buildings are due to open in the mid-2030s.
However, we will update this section as more information becomes available.
What kind of events and educational formats does the Forum Recht Foundation offer?
We invite people of all ages and from all segments of society to discuss issues of the law and the rule of law with us in workshops, discussion series, thematic days, exhibitions, and artistic projects. Furthermore, we organize discussion events, film screenings, and book readings.
Admission to all events is free. Our education team visits schools and other educational facilities, develops training courses for educational and outreach work, organizes educational trips for trainers and other intermediaries, and holds various workshops and events all across Germany. Moreover, you are welcome join our monthly city tours of Karlsruhe and Leipzig to discover these important sites of justice. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or just come to one of our events!
Our podcast series (available in German), which are available on our website and all mainstream platforms, offer different perspectives on the topics of law and the rule of law. Please see our calendar for our current and upcoming events.
Who is our program designed for?
The foundation's program is open to everyone, regardless of background, nationality, age, or interests. Admission to the events is generally free. If there are any costs for participation, this will be stated in advance on our website.
Does the Forum Recht Foundation provide advice on specific legal issues?
No, the Forum Recht Foundation does not offer legal advice. In Germany, legal advice can only be given by lawyers, and licensed legal service providers. Information and tips regarding how to find a lawyer can be found on the website of the German Federal Ministry of Justice: service.justiz.de/beratungshilfe/anwaltssuche (available in German).
Those with low incomes can apply for legal aid at the relevant local court. In some places, a free or low-cost initial consultation is possible. This information can be found at the relevant local court or – where available – from the local bar association in your area. It is also worth noting that the law faculties of many universities in Germany also have student law clinics that specialize in various topics and offer advice on a voluntary basis.
Some associations and advice services, such as consumer counseling centers, also offer legal advice on specific topics. Usually, these are subject to a fee. Some state ministries and federal states have ombudspersons who provide support in the event of problems when communicating with authorities or offices. Those seeking advice can contact the respective ombudsperson with their concerns free of charge.
How can I find out about current events?
We provide information about all activities here on our website, in the monthly newsletter, and on the social media platforms Instagram, Facebook und LinkedIn. You can find recordings of selected formats on the Foundation's YouTube channel and our Podcasts on all mainstream podcast platforms.
If you would like to stay up to date about our activities, please consider subscribing to our newsletter here (available in German). If you would like to receive regular invitations to events, workshops, or other offers by mail, please register here.
What sets the Forum Recht Foundation apart from other institutions?
Having been established by the German Bundestag, our democratic legitimacy stems from elected representatives of the people in Germany, The Foundation’s two physical locations as well as mobile and virtual offerings make it possible for us to create spaces focusing on matters of law and the constitutional stated governed by the rule of law. Our activities emphasize on exhibitions, public participation, debates, dialogue, discussion, and on a lively exchange. This embodies one of the Foundation’s explicitly formulated principles. Thus, our task is to provide knowledge and information as well as to engage with people and their experiences with law.
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