Julius Offner was born in Horshenz, Bohemia into an orthodox Jewish family He received his Jewish education from his father which was later a major factor in his ethical and legal thinking and writing.
Offner developed an interest in politics while practicing law and was elected member of the House of Representatives (1901). There he worked with others for changes (three additions) in the civil code (1914-1916). Offner was active with Emil Steinbach in making fundamental changes in legislation and judicial practice, during the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
Offner was also active in introducing many social and economic new bills in the Austrian Parliament. His work in developing legislation, prompted his colleagues to refer to Offner as the “Conscience of the Parliament”. Among the laws he initiated one was called after his name “Lex Offner” (1914). This law dealt with the amounts on which was based the classification of crimes against property. Offner attempted to abolish the old marriage law, which gave advantage to the Catholic majority. His Jewish origin brought him enemies both from the Jews who were afraid of anti-Semitism, and from non-Jews who accused him of intervention in religious matters.
Offner was unsuccessful in the election of 1919, and was replaced by another Jew and Zionist candidate, Robert Sticker. Julius Offner was active in the Senate and the new Federal Constitutional Court until his death in 1924.