The history of German lawyers in private practice from 1878 to 1933 helps answer questions about the inability of German liberalism to withstand National Socialism in 1933. They won free entry and self-government for their profession in 1878, thinking these would lead to civic leadership and expanded liberty, but the changes that were unleashed revealed the limits of professional influence. Exaggerated expectations for the legal profession in public life exposed the limitations of procedural liberalism, with tragic consequences.