AFTER YEARS OF INCISIVE LEGAL REFORMS, THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE CHARACTERIZES THE YEAR 1978 AS ONE OF CONSOLIDATION, WHICH GIVES LEGAL EXPERTS AND CITIZENS THE CHANCE TO GET USED TO THE NEW LEGISLATION. NEVERTHELESS, THE CONSTANT EFFORT TO ADJUST THE GERMAN LEGISLATIVE BODY TO NEW CHALLENGES HAS NOT COME TO A STANDSTILL. THE REFORMS OF 1978 ARE SUMMARIZED IN THIS REPORT FOR THE AREAS OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LAW, CONSUMER PROTECTION, CREDIT LAWS, CRIMINAL LAW, JUVENILE CORRECTIONS, COURT PROCEDURE, ECONOMIC LAW, GOVERNMENT LIABILITY, AND THE USE OF DATA PROCESSING IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. A BRIEF SURVEY OF MISCELLANEOUS LEGISLATIVE TRANSACTIONS INCLUDES (AMONG OTHER AREAS) CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, CIVIL LAW, AND LEGAL RELATIONS WITH THE GERMAN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. INTERNATIONAL AND SUPRANATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN WHICH THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC TOOK PART INCLUDE THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE INTEGRATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN LEGAL MATTERS, INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC LAW, INTERNATIONAL TRADE LAWS, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LEGISLATION, AND CIVIL LEGISLATION. EXTENSIVE STATISTICAL CHARTS REPRESENTING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE WEST GERMAN COURT SYSTEMS ARE APPENDED. THE REPORT INCLUDES A DIAGRAM OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE WEST GERMAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)