Efforts to Retain Retired Personnel in the Judiciary

In light of a significant wave of retirements in the judiciary, the President of the Berlin District Court has proposed initiatives aimed at retaining experienced personnel even after their official retirement. Andrea Diekmann emphasized the importance of utilizing the expertise and knowledge of retirees who are eager to continue contributing to the judicial system.

Diekmann noted that many retired employees express a strong desire to share their insights and remain engaged with the judicial community. She stressed the necessity of leveraging this potential, which is crucial for the transfer of essential knowledge within the system. To this end, Diekmann advocates for the continuation of employment for retirees through part-time contracts, allowing them to remain connected to the judiciary.

While the practice of retaining retired judges for various roles, such as mentoring trainees or participating in examinations, is already in place, Diekmann believes that similar opportunities should be expanded to non-judicial staff. This demographic includes a significant number of employees who will be retiring soon, and their experience could be invaluable for the ongoing operations of the courts.

Furthermore, Diekmann is collaborating with colleagues from other courts to address this issue collectively, highlighting that the challenge of personnel shortages is widespread across the judicial system. She suggested that certain responsibilities could also be delegated to junior lawyers or legal clerks, drawing from successful models implemented after the reunification of Germany.

In addition to retaining experienced staff, Diekmann underscored the importance of attracting younger individuals to the legal profession. She proposed integrating legal education into school curricula, potentially facilitated by retired professionals who can engage with students. Strengthening collaboration with educational authorities to enhance practical training opportunities in courts for future legal professionals was also deemed essential.

Diekmann acknowledged that flexibility in working arrangements has become increasingly vital, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has opened new avenues for remote work. While such arrangements were traditionally limited to judges, there is a growing recognition of the need to adapt roles to meet the diverse life circumstances of all judicial employees, including those balancing childcare or caregiving responsibilities.

According to the Berlin Senate Justice Administration, as of March 1, there are 1,570 judges in Berlin. Of these, 81 are set to reach retirement age in 2026 and 2027. Additionally, there are 6,034 staff members working within the courts, with 108 expected to retire around the same time. While it is anticipated that new hires will be able to fill these gaps, the ongoing personnel shortage in courts and public prosecutor offices across Germany remains a pressing concern.

To combat these issues, the Berlin judiciary has launched various recruitment campaigns aimed at young people, including the #youstiz initiative, which utilizes social media to connect with potential future employees. This campaign features creative elements such as rap music produced by judicial staff to engage and attract a younger audience.