diff --git a/frontend/messages/de.json b/frontend/messages/de.json
index 5642db93..8088ef6b 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/de.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/de.json
@@ -887,5 +887,11 @@
 	"bulk_edit_retry": "Erneut versuchen",
 	"bulk_edit_title": "Massenbearbeitung",
 	"bulk_edit_save_button": "Anwenden",
-	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Maximal 500 Dokumente pro Anfrage."
+	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Maximal 500 Dokumente pro Anfrage.",
+	"form_label_archive_box": "Karton",
+	"form_helper_archive_box": "Welcher Karton im Archiv?",
+	"form_label_archive_folder": "Mappe",
+	"form_helper_archive_folder": "Welche Mappe innerhalb des Kartons?",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_selection": "Auswahl aufheben",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_hint_keyboard": "Esc: Auswahl aufheben"
 }
diff --git a/frontend/messages/en.json b/frontend/messages/en.json
index 50f2399f..d5796dbf 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/en.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/en.json
@@ -887,5 +887,11 @@
 	"bulk_edit_retry": "Retry",
 	"bulk_edit_title": "Bulk edit",
 	"bulk_edit_save_button": "Apply",
-	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Maximum 500 documents per request."
+	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Maximum 500 documents per request.",
+	"form_label_archive_box": "Box",
+	"form_helper_archive_box": "Which box in the archive?",
+	"form_label_archive_folder": "Folder",
+	"form_helper_archive_folder": "Which folder inside the box?",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_selection": "Clear selection",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_hint_keyboard": "Esc: clear selection"
 }
diff --git a/frontend/messages/es.json b/frontend/messages/es.json
index 0cd956ab..2678eee0 100644
--- a/frontend/messages/es.json
+++ b/frontend/messages/es.json
@@ -887,5 +887,11 @@
 	"bulk_edit_retry": "Reintentar",
 	"bulk_edit_title": "Edición masiva",
 	"bulk_edit_save_button": "Aplicar",
-	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Máximo 500 documentos por solicitud."
+	"error_bulk_edit_too_many_ids": "Máximo 500 documentos por solicitud.",
+	"form_label_archive_box": "Caja",
+	"form_helper_archive_box": "¿Qué caja del archivo?",
+	"form_label_archive_folder": "Carpeta",
+	"form_helper_archive_folder": "¿Qué carpeta dentro de la caja?",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_selection": "Limpiar selección",
+	"bulk_edit_clear_hint_keyboard": "Esc: limpiar selección"
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkDocumentEditLayout.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkDocumentEditLayout.svelte
index d9576c2c..57d21dd9 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkDocumentEditLayout.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkDocumentEditLayout.svelte
@@ -379,10 +379,12 @@ async function retrySave() {
 			>
 				{#if mode === 'edit'}
 					<!-- Onboarding callout: tells the user that empty fields are skipped
-						 and that tags/receivers are added rather than replaced. -->
+						 and that tags/receivers are added rather than replaced.
+						 No aria-label — role=note + the visible text content is
+						 self-describing; an aria-label would override that text for
+						 AT users on non-DE locales. -->
 					<div
 						role="note"
-						aria-label="Hinweis zur Massenbearbeitung"
 						data-testid="bulk-edit-callout"
 						class="rounded-sm border border-accent/40 bg-accent/15 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-ink-2"
 					>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte
index 5a16897c..14e02c45 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { bulkSelectionStore } from '$lib/stores/bulkSelection.svelte';
 let { canWrite }: { canWrite: boolean } = $props();
 
 const count = $derived(bulkSelectionStore.size);
+const visible = $derived(canWrite && count > 0);
 
 function openBulkEdit() {
 	goto('/documents/bulk-edit');
@@ -14,16 +15,37 @@ function openBulkEdit() {
 function clearAll() {
 	bulkSelectionStore.clear();
 }
+
+// Escape clears the selection — keyboard escape hatch when the user has
+// drilled into a 50-row selection and wants to bail without Tab-ing through
+// the whole footer (WCAG 2.1.1).
+function onEscape(e: KeyboardEvent) {
+	if (e.key === 'Escape' && visible) {
+		clearAll();
+	}
+}
 </script>
 
-{#if canWrite && count > 0}
+<svelte:window onkeydown={onEscape} />
+
+{#if visible}
 	<div
 		data-testid="bulk-selection-bar"
-		class="fixed right-0 bottom-0 left-0 z-30 flex items-center justify-between border-t border-line bg-surface px-4 py-3 pb-[max(0.75rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))] shadow-[0_-2px_8px_rgba(0,0,0,0.06)] sm:px-6"
+		class="fixed right-0 bottom-0 left-0 z-30 flex items-center justify-between gap-3 border-t border-line bg-surface px-4 py-3 pb-[max(0.75rem,env(safe-area-inset-bottom))] shadow-[0_-2px_8px_rgba(0,0,0,0.06)] sm:px-6"
 	>
-		<span class="font-sans text-sm font-medium text-ink" data-testid="bulk-selection-count">
-			{m.bulk_edit_n_selected({ count })}
-		</span>
+		<div class="flex items-baseline gap-3">
+			<span
+				class="font-sans text-sm font-medium text-ink"
+				data-testid="bulk-selection-count"
+				aria-live="polite"
+				aria-atomic="true"
+			>
+				{m.bulk_edit_n_selected({ count })}
+			</span>
+			<span class="hidden font-sans text-xs text-ink-3 sm:inline">
+				{m.bulk_edit_clear_hint_keyboard()}
+			</span>
+		</div>
 		<div class="flex items-center gap-2">
 			<button
 				type="button"
@@ -31,7 +53,7 @@ function clearAll() {
 				class="inline-flex min-h-[44px] items-center px-4 py-2 font-sans text-sm font-medium text-ink-2 transition-colors hover:text-ink"
 				data-testid="bulk-clear-all"
 			>
-				{m.bulk_edit_clear_all()}
+				{m.bulk_edit_clear_selection()}
 			</button>
 			<button
 				type="button"
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte.spec.ts
index 649220e1..70ac10c4 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/BulkSelectionBar.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -46,4 +46,27 @@ describe('BulkSelectionBar', () => {
 		await page.getByTestId('bulk-edit-open').click();
 		expect(vi.mocked(goto)).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/documents/bulk-edit');
 	});
+
+	it('selection count region announces via aria-live=polite', async () => {
+		bulkSelectionStore.add('a');
+		render(BulkSelectionBar, { canWrite: true });
+		await expect
+			.element(page.getByTestId('bulk-selection-count'))
+			.toHaveAttribute('aria-live', 'polite');
+	});
+
+	it('Escape clears the selection while the bar is visible', async () => {
+		bulkSelectionStore.add('a');
+		bulkSelectionStore.add('b');
+		render(BulkSelectionBar, { canWrite: true });
+		window.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Escape' }));
+		await expect.poll(() => bulkSelectionStore.size).toBe(0);
+	});
+
+	it('Escape is a no-op when the bar is hidden (no selection)', async () => {
+		render(BulkSelectionBar, { canWrite: true });
+		window.dispatchEvent(new KeyboardEvent('keydown', { key: 'Escape' }));
+		// Nothing to clear, no error.
+		expect(bulkSelectionStore.size).toBe(0);
+	});
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/DescriptionSection.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/DescriptionSection.svelte
index 3714076f..3800a893 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/DescriptionSection.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/DescriptionSection.svelte
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ const titleValue = $derived(titleDirty ? currentTitle : suggestedTitle || curren
 		{#if editMode}
 			<!-- Karton (only in editMode — bulk-editable replace) -->
 			<div data-testid="description-archive-box">
-				<label for="archiveBox" class="mb-1 block text-sm font-medium text-ink-2"
-					>Karton
+				<label for="archiveBox" class="mb-1 block text-sm font-medium text-ink-2">
+					{m.form_label_archive_box()}
 					<FieldLabelBadge variant="replace" />
 				</label>
 				<input
@@ -132,12 +132,13 @@ const titleValue = $derived(titleDirty ? currentTitle : suggestedTitle || curren
 					bind:value={archiveBox}
 					class="block w-full rounded border border-line p-2 text-sm shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-focus-ring"
 				/>
+				<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-ink-3">{m.form_helper_archive_box()}</p>
 			</div>
 
 			<!-- Mappe (only in editMode — bulk-editable replace) -->
 			<div data-testid="description-archive-folder">
-				<label for="archiveFolder" class="mb-1 block text-sm font-medium text-ink-2"
-					>Mappe
+				<label for="archiveFolder" class="mb-1 block text-sm font-medium text-ink-2">
+					{m.form_label_archive_folder()}
 					<FieldLabelBadge variant="replace" />
 				</label>
 				<input
@@ -147,6 +148,7 @@ const titleValue = $derived(titleDirty ? currentTitle : suggestedTitle || curren
 					bind:value={archiveFolder}
 					class="block w-full rounded border border-line p-2 text-sm shadow-sm focus:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-focus-ring"
 				/>
+				<p class="mt-1 text-xs text-ink-3">{m.form_helper_archive_folder()}</p>
 			</div>
 		{/if}
 	</div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte
index ac59e552..6a694dca 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const text = $derived(
 
 <span
 	data-testid="field-label-badge-{variant}"
-	class="ml-2 inline-flex items-center rounded-sm bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-medium tracking-wide text-gray-600"
+	class="ml-2 inline-flex items-center rounded-sm bg-muted px-1.5 py-0.5 text-[11px] font-medium tracking-wide text-ink-2"
 >
 	{text}
 </span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte.spec.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte.spec.ts
index 9895e0c0..d52213ad 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/document/FieldLabelBadge.svelte.spec.ts
@@ -21,10 +21,8 @@ describe('FieldLabelBadge', () => {
 			.toHaveTextContent('wird ersetzt');
 	});
 
-	it('uses text-gray-600 for WCAG-AA contrast on muted backgrounds', async () => {
+	it('uses the design-system text-ink-2 token (not raw Tailwind palette)', async () => {
 		render(FieldLabelBadge, { variant: 'replace' });
-		await expect
-			.element(page.getByTestId('field-label-badge-replace'))
-			.toHaveClass(/text-gray-600/);
+		await expect.element(page.getByTestId('field-label-badge-replace')).toHaveClass(/text-ink-2/);
 	});
 });
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/documents/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/documents/+page.svelte
index 4bc00f64..82effc6f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/documents/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/documents/+page.svelte
@@ -200,7 +200,13 @@ $effect(() => {
 	<title>{m.nav_documents()} – Familienarchiv</title>
 </svelte:head>
 
-<main class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 py-8 font-sans sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
+<!-- Reserve bottom padding when the bulk-selection bar is visible so the
+	 sticky bar does not occlude the last document row or the pagination
+	 controls (WCAG 1.4.10 / 2.4.7). -->
+<main
+	class="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 py-8 font-sans sm:px-6 lg:px-8"
+	class:pb-32={bulkSelectionStore.size > 0 && data.canWrite}
+>
 	<h1 class="sr-only">{m.nav_documents()}</h1>
 
 	<SearchFilterBar
diff --git a/frontend/src/routes/enrich/+page.svelte b/frontend/src/routes/enrich/+page.svelte
index dce475a8..4c30c583 100644
--- a/frontend/src/routes/enrich/+page.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/routes/enrich/+page.svelte
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ const count = $derived(documents.length);
 const canWrite = $derived(data.canWrite);
 </script>
 
-<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-4 py-10">
+<!-- Reserve bottom padding when the bulk-selection bar is visible so the
+	 sticky bar does not occlude the last document row (WCAG 1.4.10). -->
+<div class="mx-auto max-w-4xl px-4 py-10" class:pb-32={bulkSelectionStore.size > 0 && canWrite}>
 	<!-- Back Link -->
 	<BackButton />