Kanton Glarus

Subject Matter

1 This Law regulates the exercise of the legal profession in the Canton of Glarus and implements the Federal Act on the Freedom of Movement for Lawyers (BGFA).

Scope of Application

1 This Act applies to persons who possess an attorney's license and represent parties before Glarus courts or are engaged in advisory capacities in the Canton of Glarus under a corresponding professional title.

* Access to Official Documents

1 The provisions concerning the right of access to official documents under the Law on Public Information, Data Protection, and Archives¹) do not apply to the sphere of activity of the Lawyers' Commission.

Berechtigung zur Parteivertretung

**Authorization for Party Representation**

1 Soweit das Gesetz keine Ausnahmen vorsieht, sind zur Vertretung und Ver-

beiständung von Parteien vor den glarnerischen Gerichten und Strafverfol-

gungsbehörden nur Personen berechtigt, welche im kantonalen Anwaltsre-

gister gemäss Artikel 5 BGFA eingetragen sind oder Freizügigkeit nach Bun-

desrecht geniessen. *

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**1 Unless the law provides for exceptions, only persons registered in the cantonal register of attorneys in accordance with Article 5 BGFA or enjoying freedom of movement under federal law are authorized to represent and assist parties before the Glarus courts and law enforcement authorities. ***

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2 Die Anwaltskommission erteilt auf Gesuch hin Rechtsanwältinnen und

Rechtsanwälten, die in einem kantonalen Anwaltsregister eingetragen sind,

die Bewilligung, die bei ihnen tätigen Praktikumsangestellten unter ihrer Lei-

tung und Verantwortung zur Prozessvertretung im Kanton Glarus einzuset-

zen, sofern diese die Voraussetzungen von Artikel 7 Absatz 1 Buchstabe a

und Artikel 8 Absatz 1 Buchstaben a-d BGFA erfüllen. Die Substitutionsbe-

willigung wird für höchstens drei Jahre erteilt; sie kann in Härtefällen verlän-

gert, andererseits bei begründetem Anlass auch wieder entzogen werden.

2. Anwaltskommission

**2 Upon request, the Bar Commission grants attorneys who are registered in a cantonal register of attorneys the authorization to employ legal interns working for them under their direction and responsibility for litigation representation in the Canton of Glarus, provided that these interns fulfill the requirements of Article 7 Paragraph 1 Letter a and Article 8 Paragraph 1 Letters a-d BGFA. The substitution authorization is granted for a maximum of three years; it can be extended in cases of hardship, but can also be revoked if there is a justified reason.**

**2. Bar Commission**

Composition

1 The Lawyers' Commission consists of five members and constitutes itself.

2 The members of the Lawyers' Commission must either hold a bar admission license entitling them to be entered in a cantonal lawyers' register, or have completed a law degree with a licentiate from a Swiss university or an equivalent university diploma from a state that has agreed to mutual recognition with Switzerland. They must be administratively independent. They may not belong to the same law firm nor have been disciplined within the last five years prior to any election. A member disciplined during their term of office loses their membership.

Election

1 The Cantonal Council elects the members and alternate members of the Bar Commission for a term of office of four years, which corresponds to that of the judicial authorities. Persons who do not have the right to vote in the canton may also be elected. *

2 The Glarus Bar Association and the Administrative Commission of the Courts each propose two commission members and alternate members to the Cantonal Council, while the Government Council proposes one ordinary and one alternate member.

Organisation

1 The Bar Commission has a quorum with five members. In all other respects, Article 51 paragraphs 2 - 4 of the Court Organisation Act applies mutatis mutandis.

2 It may engage suitable experts for the purpose of conducting and grading the bar examinations and the aptitude tests pursuant to Article 31 BGFA.

3 It appoints a secretariat.

4 If the Bar Commission cannot be fully staffed in a matter due to reasons of recusal or other impediments, extraordinary members or extraordinary substitute members may be appointed. The Chairperson of the Bar Commission shall submit a proposal to the Bar Association, the Administrative Commission of the Courts, and the Government Council, who shall agree on the persons to be appointed. *

Competencies

1 The Lawyers' Commission is the cantonal supervisory authority for lawyers (Art. 14 BGFA) and fulfills all tasks according to the Federal Act on the Freedom to Practise as a Lawyer and according to this Act. It

a. administers the bar examination and issues the lawyer's license;

b. maintains the Lawyers' Register of the Canton of Glarus (Art. 5 para. 3 BGFA);

c. designates recognized non-profit organizations (Art. 8 para. 2 BGFA);

d. grants access to the Lawyers' Register of the Canton of Glarus and provides information on whether a lawyer is entered in the Lawyers' Register of the Canton of Glarus and whether a prohibition on practicing their profession has been imposed against them (Art. 10 BGFA);

e. maintains the public list of nationals of member states of the European Union (EU) or the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) who are permitted to permanently represent parties before judicial authorities in Switzerland under their original professional title (List of EU or EFTA lawyers; Art. 28 para. 1 BGFA);

f. grants access to the list of EU or EFTA lawyers and provides information on whether a person is entered in this list and whether a prohibition on practicing their profession has been imposed against them;

g. conducts the aptitude test or the interview to assess professional qualifications (Art. 30 BGFA);

h. releases lawyers from professional secrecy;

i. decides whether an applicant is admitted to the bar examination;

k. ...

3

Competence Delegation

1 The Lawyers' Commission may delegate individual administrative tasks, namely

the granting of substitution permits as well as the entry in the Lawyers' Register

or the keeping of the directory and the list of lawyers from the EU or EFTA

practicing in the Canton of Glarus under their original professional title, to the

Presidency.

2 The Presidency shall furthermore make the necessary arrangements when there

is imminent danger.

3. Lawyer's Patent and Lawyers' Register

1. Die Anwaltskommission erteilt das Glarner Anwaltspatent Bewerberinnen und Bewerbern, welche die fachlichen Voraussetzungen im Sinne von Artikel 7 BGFA erfüllen und die glarnerische Anwaltsprüfung bestanden haben.

2. Die Anwaltskommission bestimmt in einem Reglement[[2]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_633647_2_2_c) die Einzelheiten der Anwaltsprüfung, welche eine Prüfung über die theoretischen und praktischen Kenntnisse zu umfassen hat, sowie die Modalitäten des für die Zulassung zur Prüfung erforderlichen Praktikums.

3. Das Anwaltspatent erbringt den Nachweis der fachlichen Voraussetzungen im Sinne von Artikel 7 BGFA für die Eintragung im kantonalen Anwaltsregister und berechtigt die Inhaberin oder den Inhaber unter der Berufsbezeichnung «Rechtsanwältin» oder «Rechtsanwalt» oder unter einem gleichwertigen Titel aufzutreten.

Lawyer Register

1 The Lawyers' Commission maintains the cantonal lawyer register in accor-

dance with Article 5 of the Federal Act on the Freedom to Practise as a Lawyer.

2 Every new entry in the lawyer register must be published in the cantonal

official gazette, as must the deletion of a register entry.

Registration in the Lawyers' Register

1 A person shall be registered in the Lawyers' Register if they provide written

proof that they meet the professional and personal requirements

under federal law.

2 Subject to the provisions of the Federal Act on the Freedom of Movement

of Lawyers, the Bar Commission shall regulate the requirements for

the aptitude test as well as the interview for assessing the

professional skills of nationals of EU or EFTA member states who wish

to be registered in the Lawyers' Register. *

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Anyone registered in the Lawyers' Register must immediately report the loss of an eligibility

requirement and any change in registered data to the Bar

Commission.

Deletion from the Register of Lawyers

1 The Bar Commission deletes an entry in the Register of Lawyers if one of the conditions for registration is no longer met.

2 The deletion may take place upon application or ex officio. Insofar as the registered person does not themselves waive the registration, the provisions of the disciplinary procedure are applicable by analogy.

**4. Professional Rules and Supervision**

Professional Rules

1 For lawyers who represent parties in court in the Canton of Glarus or who

provide advisory services with the corresponding professional title, the

professional duties according to Articles 12 and 13 BGFA apply,

irrespective of their entry in the register of lawyers.

2 Lawyers are subject to the supervision and disciplinary power of the

supervisory authority, irrespective of their entry in the register of

lawyers.

Disciplinary Proceedings

1 Disciplinary proceedings are conducted ex officio or upon written notification.

The reporting person or authority is not a party to the disciplinary proceedings.

2 Unless federal law provides otherwise, the provisions of the Administrative

Justice Act³) are applicable.

3 The decisions of the Bar Commission must be communicated in writing to

the affected lawyer and to the authorities stipulated by federal law.

Disciplinary Measures

¹ If a violation of professional rules by an attorney is established, a disciplinary measure according to Article 17 BGFA can be ordered.

² If serious reasons justify it, particularly if a prohibition from practicing the profession for more than one year is highly likely, the attorney's professional activity may be provisionally prohibited even during the disciplinary proceedings (Art. 17 para. 3 BGFA).

³ The duration of the provisional prohibition from practicing the profession shall be credited towards a fixed-term prohibition.

⁴ A prohibition from practicing the profession must be published in the official gazette.

⁵ Legal Protection

Appeal to the Administrative Court

1 Appeals against decisions of the Bar Commission and the Presidium under

Article 8 paragraph 1 can be filed with the Administrative Court in accordance

with the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act.

2 The Glarner Bar Association also has the right to appeal against entries

in the cantonal bar register.

6. Lawyer's Fees

Principle

1 The remuneration of the lawyer by the client is determined by the fee agreement with the client.

Temporary Practice of the Profession

1 The courts of the Canton of Glarus require members of EU or EFTA

member states, in the case of temporary practice of the profession

pursuant to Article 21 paragraph 1 BGFA, to provide proof that they are entitled

to practice as a lawyer in their home state under a recognized professional

title. *

2 The Bar Commission may maintain a register of the proofs provided.

1. Die Anwaltskommission führt eine öffentliche Liste der Angehörigen von Mitgliedstaaten der EU oder der EFTA, die aufgrund ihrer Tätigkeit im Herkunftsstaat berechtigt sind, unter ihrer ursprünglichen Berufsbezeichnung ständig Parteien vor den Glarner Gerichten zu vertreten.

2. Die Eintragung in die öffentliche Liste setzt eine Geschäftsadresse im Kanton Glarus voraus und wird, gleich wie die Löschung des Eintrages, im kantonalen Amtsblatt publiziert.

1. Für Amtshandlungen, die aufgrund dieses Gesetzes vorzunehmen sind, können nach Massgabe des Verwaltungsrechtspflegegesetzes und der Verordnung über amtliche Kosten im Verwaltungsverfahren und in der Verwaltungsrechtspflege[[4]](#paragraphtext_content_fn_633679_2_4_c) sowie des Reglements über die Anwaltsprüfung Gebühren erhoben werden.

2. Die Eintragungen im Anwaltsregister und in der öffentlichen Liste sind kostenlos.

3. Die Anwaltskommission setzt die Gebühren für die Anwaltsprüfung, die Eignungsprüfung und das Gespräch zur Prüfung der beruflichen Fähigkeiten im Reglement (Art. 9 Abs. 2) fest.

Cost and Indemnity Obligation in Disciplinary Proceedings

1 The costs of disciplinary proceedings are imposed upon the lawyer if a disciplinary measure is taken or if the proceedings were culpably initiated. In the case of a vexatious complaint, the complaining person or authority becomes liable for costs and, if applicable, for indemnity; in other cases, the state bears the costs.

Liability for Costs and Compensation in Appeal Proceedings

1 In appeal proceedings, liability for costs and compensation is governed by the provisions of the Administrative Justice Act.

**9. Penal Provision**

Unauthorized Use of Titles

1 Whoever unlawfully designates themselves as a lawyer or uses an equivalent title shall be punished with a fine of up to 5,000 francs, or up to 20,000 francs in case of repetition. In addition, the decision may be published in the Official Gazette.

2 The designation as a patent attorney is reserved.

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10. Transitional and Final Provisions

Registration in the Lawyers' Register

1 Lawyers who, upon the entry into force of this Act, hold the Glarus bar

patent and are resident in the canton, shall be registered in the cantonal

Lawyers' Register ex officio and without the collection of fees.

Pending Disciplinary Cases

1 Disciplinary cases pending at the time this Act comes into force shall be dealt with under the previous law. If the provisions of this Act are more favorable to the person concerned, they shall apply.

1. Der Regierungsrat bestimmt den Zeitpunkt des Inkrafttretens.