Legal advice to help yourself
To competently and comprehensively advice and represent you legally - preferably out of court, if necessary in court - is my prime task.
You can help your own cause by describing your matter preferably via email as accurate as possible. Your written input enables a prompt and targeted reply and a more efficient and cost-effective representation.
Once you have contacted me and prior to any charge you will receive free general advice outlining the way forward as well as corresponding fees and costs. Fees (see below) will arise only when I explicitly point this out.
Languages: German, English, French.
About me
Legal formation
- Law decree Bonn University
- Bar Exam / Judicial Examination Office in Cologne and Düsseldorf
- Doctoral dissertation “Legal protection of residents of Berlin against sovereign acts of the occupying authorities according to Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights”
Foreign Office
For over 30 years I have worked for the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) in Berlin and abroad. As Director of the Academy of the Foreign Office in Berlin from 2015-2021 I was responsible for training diplomats in legal and in particular in visa- and consular matters.
Lawyer
In 2022 I was admitted to the Bar Association Berlin. I am a member of Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP/AFS), Amnesty international (AI) and the German Council on Foreign Relations.
Fees & costs
Transparent and comprehensible fees
Fees will arise only when I expressly point this out once you have contacted me. After a first and free preliminary evaluation I will outline the way forward including fees and costs.
In case of need and eligibility for social benefit I will support you in applying for financial assistance for legal counselling (Beratungshilfe) and legal representation in court (Prozeßkostenhilfe). This financial assistance is provided by the state as a loan and has to be repaid once the neediness and eligibility for social benefit do not apply anymore.
Legal framework
Attorney fees for counseling and representation in and out of court are based on an contractual agreement or on the statuary fees pursuant to the Lawyer‘s Compensation Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz, RVG). The Lawyer‘s Compensation Act sets the value of claims based on the asylum law (entitlement to asylum, refugee protection, subsidiary protection, residence permit, ban on deportation) at the fixed amount of 5000 € per person plus 1000 € for each additional person. It tables the fees for each step taken in or out of court according to a scale taking into account standard cases as well as more or less complicated cases ( see the „Table of Fees“ as Attachment 2 to the RVG by leaving this website and opening the following new website published by the Federal Ministry of Justice: http://gesetzte-im-internet.de).
For residence permits for training and study purposes as well as for employment and business activities basically the same fees apply plus additional costs of the authorities, for the visa procedure at embassies & consulates, for translation and examination of professional certificates, etc.
Accordingly please take into account the following average fees based on the RVG after a free preliminary evaluation:
Counseling
My attorney fees for counselling in standard cases of asylum and residency matters will in average amount to 90 € per hour, uncomplicated cases will cost less, challenging cases may demand a higher than the average fee.
Legal representation out of court
My attorney fees for legal representation out of court for standard residency and asylum claims based on the Asylum Law or the Federal Residence Act usually average about 500 € total. Uncomplicated cases will cost less, challenging cases may demand a higher than average fee.
Legal representation in court
My attorney fees for legal representation in court for standard residency and asylum claims based on the Asylum Law or the Federal Residence Act usually average about 700 € total. In claims based on the Asylum Law no additional fees are charged by the administrative court, for residence matters outside of asylum or refugee law issues, additional court fees apply.
When formally taking up your case I usually ask for on an advance payment. I am ready to accept payment by installments.
