Emil Steinbach was born in Vienna. Following his studies in law, he was on the faculty of College of Commerce in Vienna. He was appointed to the Department of Justice in 1874 by Julius Glaser then Minister of Justice. Steinbach then converted to Christianity. He rose to become Head of the Department of Justice in 1887 and then Minister of Finance from1891-1898. He was Chairman of a division in the Supreme Court in1899 and then President of the Supreme Court, from 1904 to1907. This was the first and last time in Austrian history that a jurist of Jewish descent held such an important juristic post. During his service with Glaser, he helped with legislation on health, accident and disability insurance for workers. As Minister of Finance, he changed the Monetary System, from the Florin to Gold Standard and Crown System. Steinbach also drafted a law on moving the tax burden from financially weak to wealthy individuals. The law was rejected, and the government fell (1898). Steinbach was also known for his writings. Among them: Die Rechtskenntnisse des Publikums (1878), Erwerb und Beruf (1890), Treu und Glauben in Verkehr (1901). Der Staat und die modernen Privatmonopole (1903).
Steinbach’s Jewish origin religious feeling and ethical conviction, underlined his legislative philosophy and individual conduct.