Together with the Faculty of Law of the Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna, CERHA HEMPEL is for the first time organizing a law clinic on the Freedom of Information Act for Austrian municipalities, scheduled to be held in the 2024/25 academic year. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Hans Kristoferitsch, LL.M. and Dr. Lukas Wieser, students enrolled on the master of laws programme at the Sigmund Freud Private University will advise the municipalities of Eisenstadt (Burgenland), Engerwitzdorf (Upper Austria), Krems and St. Pölten (both Lower Austria) on the Freedom of Information Act and help them prepare for the law's entry-into-force.
From 1 September 2025, the Freedom of Information Act will (among other things) require Austrian municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants to publish public interest information proactively, marking a fundamental shift away from official secrecy towards state transparency. All municipalities will be required to respond to requests for information in individual cases. Larger municipalities in particular should already be in the process of developing internal guidelines and best practices to help prepare their employees to respond to requests for information and to publish information in the information register, which will be available at www.data.gv.at.
The innovative concept of the law clinic originated in the United States, but is also becoming increasingly common at Austrian universities. As a legal "outpatient clinic", law clinics provide clients with free legal advice and make it possible for students to gain their first practical experience of advising clients under the guidance of experienced lawyers.