Prostitution is a prominent phenomenon in all major German cities. Despite this social reality, it has long been associated with significant legal disadvantages in the Federal Republic of Germany. Especially in the 1990s, fundamental reform efforts were made to improve the legal situation of sex workers. The reform process ultimately led to the enactment of the Law on the Regulation of the Legal Relations of Prostitutes on December 20, 2001 (ProstG). This paper first provides a legal historical overview of prostitution. A particular focus is then placed on the legal situation following the enactment of the ProstG on January 1, 2002, as well as the question of whether this law has actually been able to improve the legal situation of sex workers.