DGB Rechtsschutz
DGB Rechtsschutz GmbH is the wholly-owned legal services subsidiary of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), providing free labor, social security, and civil servant law representation to the 5.4–5.7 million members of the eight DGB trade unions through 117 offices and 800 lawyers across Germany.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What DGB Rechtsschutz does
DGB Rechtsschutz GmbH is a Berlin/Düsseldorf-headquartered legal services company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB), founded in 1998. It provides free legal representation to approximately 5.4–5.7 million members of the eight DGB trade unions (IG Metall, ver.di, IG BCE, NGG, EVG, GdP, GEW, IG BAU) in three practice areas: labor law, social security law, and civil servant law. The company also advises and trains works councils (Betriebsräte) and staff councils (Personalräte) on co-determination and labor compliance matters.
Operationally, DGB Rechtsschutz runs a network of 117 offices across all 16 German federal states, staffed by approximately 800 specialized lawyers. The firm handles around 125,000 cases per year through all court instances, including the Bundesarbeitsgericht, Bundessozialgericht, Bundesverwaltungsgericht, the European Court of Justice, and the European Court of Human Rights, via its dedicated Gewerkschaftliches Centrum für Revision und Europäisches Recht. Supporting products include the RECHT SO! magazine and an internal portal for civil servant salary (Alimentation) cases.
The business model is subscription-like and membership-funded rather than transactional: services are provided at no direct charge to members and are financed through DGB union membership dues. Customer acquisition is driven exclusively through union referral channels and local branches, supported by an online office finder. The company is governed by a Supervisory Board chaired by Prof. Dr. Thomas Klebe and managed by Geschäftsführerin Eva Pulfrich, with no external equity investors.
DGB Rechtsschutz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DGB Rechtsschutz
- Legal name
- DGB Rechtsschutz GmbH
- Website
- https://dgbrechtsschutz.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- DGB Rechtsschutz GmbH is the wholly-owned legal services subsidiary of the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), providing free labor, social security, and civil servant law representation to the 5.4–5.7 million members of the eight DGB trade unions through 117 offices and 800 lawyers across Germany.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DGB Rechtsschutz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Aid Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD)
Keywords
Where DGB Rechtsschutz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices30 records
Markets served
DGB Rechtsschutz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership-Funded Legal Services: DGB Rechtsschutz operates as a free service for members of the 8 DGB trade unions. Services are funded through union membership dues, with the organization being a 100% subsidiary of the DGB (Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund). No direct charges to members for legal representation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Free legal services for DGB union members |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
DGB Rechtsschutz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DGB Rechtsschutz provides free legal advice and court representation for members of the eight DGB trade unions in labor law, social security law, and civil servant law matters. The organization operates a nationwide network of 117 offices with approximately 800 specialized lawyers, handling around 125,000 cases per year through all court instances including the Federal Labor Court, Federal Social Court, Federal Administrative Court, and European courts. Services are funded through union membership dues and provided at no cost to members.
Product overview
DGB Rechtsschutz is a legal services company offering union members free legal representation across labor law, social law, and civil servant law. The core offering is the Gewerkschaftliche Rechtsvertretung service, which handles approximately 125,000 cases annually through 117 offices nationwide. Supporting products include RECHT SO! magazine (providing case studies and legal insights) and an internal portal for Alimentationsverfahren matters. The company also provides advisory services for works councils and staff representatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gewerkschaftliche Rechtsvertretung (Legal Representation Services) Legal advice and court representation for members of the eight DGB trade unions in labor law, social law, and civil servant law matters, handling approximately 125,000 cases per year through all court instances including European courts.
- Betriebs- und Personalratsberatung (Works and Staff Council Advisory Services) Advisory services and training for works councils (Betriebsräte) and staff representatives (Personalräte), supporting employee participation in workplace decisions and co-determination rights.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~125,000 cases handled annually through all court instances
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use DGB Rechtsschutz
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
DGB Rechtsschutz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
DGB Rechtsschutz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.
- Eisenbahn- und Verkehrsgewerkschaft (EVG)coreThe EVG railway and transport union is one of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation from DGB Rechtsschutz. Collaboration in legal cases involving EVG members, particularly in the mobility sector.
- EURES (Netzwerk European Employment Services)minorCollaboration with EURES network in representing mobile workers, particularly Ukrainian train drivers, in employment disputes.
- mobifair (Initiative für Fairness in der Mobilitätswirtschaft)minorPartnership with mobifair initiative for fairness in mobility economics. DGB Rechtsschutz received the mobifairness Prize 2025 for representing train drivers.
- Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (DGB)coreDGB Rechtsschutz is a 100% subsidiary of the DGB federation of German trade unions. The organization provides exclusive legal representation for all 5.4-5.7 million members of the 8 DGB-affiliated trade unions.
- Bundesarbeitsgericht (BAG)flagshipParticipation in the annual Europarechtliches Symposion (European Law Symposium) organized by the Federal Labor Court. DGB Rechtsschutz contributes expertise through presentations and panel discussions on labor law enforcement and EU fundamental rights protection.
- Deutscher ArbeitsgerichtsverbandflagshipCo-organizer of the Europarechtliches Symposion with the Bundesarbeitsgericht, bringing together judicial, academic, union, and employer association representatives.
- IG MetallcoreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. IG Metall is Germany's largest trade union with millions of members in the metal and manufacturing sectors.
- ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. ver.di represents workers in service sectors including healthcare, public administration, and telecommunications.
- IG BCE (Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. IG BCE represents workers in mining, chemical, and energy industries.
- NGG (Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. NGG represents workers in food, hospitality, and tobacco industries.
- GdP (Gewerkschaft der Polizei)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. GdP represents police officers and security personnel.
- GEW (Gewerkschaft Erziehung und Wissenschaft)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. GEW represents teachers, researchers, and education professionals.
- IG BAU (Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt)coreOne of the 8 DGB trade unions whose members receive free legal representation. IG BAU represents construction, agricultural, and environmental workers.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights8 records
DGB Rechtsschutz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Roland Rechtsschutz: Specialized German legal insurance carrier focused on private and commercial legal protection. Directly competes with DGB Rechtsschutz's labor law scope via statutory insurance products marketed to employees and employers.
- ARAG: Major German legal insurance provider with broad coverage across labor, family, and civil law. Competes indirectly with DGB Rechtsschutz by offering commercially-priced legal protection that overlaps with the union's free service offering.
- DEURAG: German legal insurance company (Deutsche Rechtsschutz-Versicherung) offering labor and general legal protection. Comparable to DGB Rechtsschutz in scope of legal services but funded through commercial premiums rather than union dues.
- D.A.S. Rechtsschutz: One of Germany's largest legal insurance companies (part of ERGO Group), offering labor law and other legal protection insurance to individuals and businesses. Represents the dominant private-market alternative to union-funded legal services, competing for the same end-client need.
- Advocard Rechtsschutz: German legal insurance provider (part of Generali) covering labor law disputes for individuals and families. Competes with DGB Rechtsschutz for the same employee-claim market through a paid insurance model.
Direct peers
- DBB Beamtenbund und Tarifunion: Confederation representing German civil servants and public-sector employees, providing union-affiliated legal protection services for its members. Operates the closest analogous model to DGB Rechtsschutz but targeted at the civil servant (Beamte) cohort, complementing DGB Rechtsschutz's coverage of the broader workforce.
- Marburger Bund Rechtsschutz: Doctors' union in Germany that provides dedicated legal representation services for its members in employment and labor disputes. Shares the union-affiliated legal services model with DGB Rechtsschutz, though focused on the medical profession.
Regional players
- UNISON: UK's largest public sector trade union, providing legal representation and advice to members across employment and civil law matters. Closest international analog to DGB Rechtsschutz's union-affiliated legal services model, though operating in a different legal system.
- Travail Suisse: Swiss trade union federation offering legal services and advice to its member unions and their members. Comparable to DGB Rechtsschutz in operating union-funded legal protection, but in the Swiss jurisdiction rather than Germany.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DGB Rechtsschutz social profiles
Digital presenceDGB Rechtsschutz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DGB Rechtsschutz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
DGB Rechtsschutz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DGB Rechtsschutz M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DGB Rechtsschutz
What does DGB Rechtsschutz do?
DGB Rechtsschutz provides free legal advice and court representation for members of the eight DGB trade unions in labor law, social security law, and civil servant law matters. The organization operates a nationwide network of 117 offices with approximately 800 specialized lawyers, handling around 125,000 cases per year through all court instances including the Federal Labor Court, Federal Social Court, Federal Administrative Court, and European courts. Services are funded through union membership dues and provided at no cost to members.
Is DGB Rechtsschutz a public or private company?
DGB Rechtsschutz is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DGB Rechtsschutz founded?
DGB Rechtsschutz was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is DGB Rechtsschutz based?
DGB Rechtsschutz is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does DGB Rechtsschutz make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership-Funded Legal Services.
Who are DGB Rechtsschutz's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Roland Rechtsschutz, ARAG, DEURAG, D.A.S. Rechtsschutz and Advocard Rechtsschutz. Direct peers are DBB Beamtenbund und Tarifunion and Marburger Bund Rechtsschutz. Regional players are UNISON and Travail Suisse.
Does DGB Rechtsschutz have an API?
No public API is recorded for DGB Rechtsschutz.
What industry is DGB Rechtsschutz in?
DGB Rechtsschutz's product category is Legal Aid Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAD, Employment & Labor Law. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.