014 towns
Lawyer in the canton of Geneva
A canton without judicial districts, one set of authorities for the whole territory: find a verified lawyer and know where your case belongs.
Source: Federal Statistical Office (FSO), swisstopo
Towns in the canton
Towns in the canton of Geneva
4 town pages, each with its practitioners and authorities, listed by district.
Practitioners
Practitioners in the canton of Geneva
First those who practise in the canton, then practitioners who consult by video in your language.
See every practitioner in the cantonPractising in the canton of Geneva3 practitioners
Instant confirmationYann Bevilacqua
Genève · Commercial law
CHF 350.–/h
No reviews yet
Instant confirmationMe Usman Toseef
Geneva · Family law
CHF 10.–/h
No reviews yet
- Instant confirmation
Paola Arcidiacono
Geneva · Commercial law
CHF 140.–/h
No reviews yet
Justice in the canton of Geneva
Which authority for which dispute?
Before you consult, it helps to know who decides. Here are the competent authorities for the whole canton and the districts they serve, each with its official website.
- Tenancy
- Work
- Family
- Criminal
- Legal aid
Tenancy
Tenancy: conciliation comes first
In Geneva, a dispute between tenant and landlord normally starts before the Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers (tenancy conciliation board). It hears both parties and looks for an agreement; if conciliation fails, it issues an authorisation to proceed, which lets you take the case to the Tribunal des baux et loyers, the tenancy court. Both belong to the Tribunal civil. Time limits to challenge a notice or a rent increase are short, so seek advice as soon as the letter arrives.
- Official website
Competent authority
Commission de conciliation en matière de baux et loyers
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Work
Work: the employment tribunal
Disputes under a private-law employment contract go to the Tribunal des prud’hommes (employment tribunal), which covers the whole canton. Proceedings normally begin with an attempt at conciliation. Dismissal, unpaid wages, overtime or a work certificate: an employment lawyer first assesses your prospects and the documents you will need. People employed by the public administration usually fall under public law and follow other routes of appeal.
- Official website
Competent authority
Tribunal des prud’hommes
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Family
Family: the civil court
Divorce, separation, custody or maintenance: these cases go to the Tribunal de première instance, part of the Tribunal civil (civil court). A family lawyer helps you prepare an agreement, apply for measures to protect the marital union, or defend your interests when no agreement is possible. Mediation is worth considering before or during the proceedings, particularly where children are involved.
- Official website
Competent authority
Tribunal civil
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Criminal
Criminal matters: the public prosecutor
A criminal complaint, a summons for questioning or a penalty order: the investigation is led by the Ministère public (public prosecutor). It may drop the case, issue a penalty order or indict before the Tribunal pénal (criminal court). A penalty order is challenged by filing an objection, and the time limit is very short. Whether you are accused or a victim, it pays to consult a criminal lawyer from the first summons.
- Official website
Competent authority
Ministère public
Serves: the whole canton
Related situations
Legal aid
Legal aid: the legal aid registry
If you cannot afford the costs of proceedings, you can apply for legal aid. In Geneva, the application goes to the Greffe de l’assistance juridique, the legal aid registry, which looks at your financial situation and your case’s prospects. If granted, legal aid can cover court costs and a lawyer’s fees. Raise the question at your first contact with the practitioner you choose.
- Official website
Competent authority
Greffe de l’assistance juridique
Serves: the whole canton
Areas of law
Areas covered in the canton of Geneva
One panel for each area in which verified practitioners work in the canton of Geneva. Other areas remain available by video call.
No practitioner in the canton of Geneva yet
Nobody in the canton is registered for these areas yet. Practitioners from elsewhere can meet you by video call.
- Employment law
- Property law
- Landlord and tenant law
- Criminal law
- Immigration law
- Succession law
- Insurance law
- Tax law
- Debt enforcement law
- Administrative law
- Data protection law
- Arbitration
Pricing on ora.
Two lines, never one total
Each practitioner sets their own fees and shows them on their profile before you book. You pay ora., which collects on the practitioner’s behalf; ora. charges its service fee on a separate line.
- Practitioner's feeSet by the practitioner, paid out to the practitioner
- ora. service fee (non-refundable)A separate line, paid to ora.
- You choose an appointment
- You pay ora., which collects for the practitioner
- The work takes place
- If you disagree, ora. mediates
Cantonal registers checked by hand
- Geneva
- Vaud
- Neuchâtel
- Fribourg
- Valais
- Jura
We keep the name of the register and the date of every check.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions in the canton of Geneva
Local answers, checked against official sources. A practitioner can look at your situation in detail.
See all questionsDoes the canton of Geneva have district courts?
No. The canton of Geneva is not divided into judicial districts: the Tribunal civil, the Tribunal pénal, the Tribunal des prud’hommes and the Ministère public cover the whole canton. Whether you live in the city of Geneva, Carouge, Lancy or Versoix, the same authorities handle your case; only the type of dispute decides where you go.
How do I challenge an administrative decision in Geneva?
A decision by a cantonal or municipal authority is challenged within the time limit stated at the end of the decision. Depending on the field, the appeal may first go to a first-instance body; at cantonal level, the Chambre administrative de la Cour de justice (administrative chamber of the Court of Justice) has the final say. An administrative lawyer tells you which route applies and prepares the arguments.
What does the Ordre des avocats de Genève do?
The Ordre des avocats de Genève (Geneva Bar Association) is the professional association of Geneva lawyers. Membership is separate from registration in the cantonal register of lawyers, which allows a lawyer to represent clients in court. ora. checks that registration before a lawyer’s profile is published; legal advisers, who hold a Swiss law degree, are shown as such.
How much does a lawyer cost in the canton of Geneva?
Each practitioner sets their own fees, and the rates of lawyers available in the canton of Geneva are shown live on this page and on every profile before you book. ora.’s service fee appears on a separate line and is never added into the fee, and you pay the practitioner directly. If your means are limited, you can apply for legal aid to the Greffe de l’assistance juridique (legal aid registry).
Next step
Find your practitioner in the canton of Geneva
Choose an area of law: the directory opens on the practitioners who work near you.
- Video consultation
- Online booking