02 · Legal practice

Legal advice & representation

Clear assessment of administrative decisions, contracts, claims and ongoing disputes – in and around Kassel.

How we help.

Bring the letter that is on your mind – we tell you what it means and what needs to happen next. Whether it is an administrative decision, a notice of termination, a payment reminder or a summons: the approach is always the same.

Assess

We read your documents, explain the situation in plain words and name deadlines and next steps.

Respond

We draft the objection, statement or reply and handle correspondence with the authority or the other side.

Represent

Where necessary, we represent you out of court and in court – with an open view of costs and prospects.

Discuss your matter ↗︎
A clear scope

What we take on – and what we do not.

A small firm works well when it names its limits. So that you know from the outset where you stand.

What we take on
  • Residence and migration proceedings
  • Tenancy, contract and debt matters
  • Selected administrative-law proceedings
  • Criminal defence from summons to main hearing
  • Road accident matters and claims handling
  • Legal guardianship and guardianship proceedings
What we do not take on
  • Tax and fiscal administrative law
  • Tax or business management advice
  • Legal advice without an expressly accepted engagement
  • Asylum matters
  • Family law matters
  • Inheritance matters
  • Employment law
  • Deadline monitoring before the engagement is accepted

A lawyer–client engagement only begins after express confirmation. If your matter is not a fit for us, we say so early and, where possible, point you to a suitable contact.

Non-binding cost guide

What should you roughly expect?

Costs arise from the occasion – and their amount is determined by the billing method. Choose both and you see how costs come about in that combination.

1 · Occasion
2 · Billing method

Initial legal consultation · Fixed price

A first conversation assessing your matter for an amount stated in advance.

What happensRecording the facts, assessing them legally, naming the next steps and deadlines.
How the price is setA fixed amount agreed before the conversation. For consumers without a different agreement, the statutory cap of 190 € net under § 34 RVG applies.
When it makes senseWhen you first want to know where you stand before deciding on representation.
Legal aid for adviceOn a low income the public purse largely covers the advice; a 15 € contribution remains payable. The entitlement certificate is issued by the local court where you live.

Initial legal consultation · RVG

Without a separate agreement the statutory fee applies.

How the price is set§ 34 RVG: for consumers a maximum of 190 € net plus VAT for the first advisory conversation.
Set-offIf the advice leads to an engagement, the advisory fee is normally set off against the further remuneration.
Legal expenses coverLegal expenses insurance may cover these costs. We prepare the request for cover; billing runs through you and you obtain reimbursement from your insurer.
Legal aid for adviceOn a low income the public purse largely covers the advice; a 15 € contribution remains payable. The entitlement certificate is issued by the local court where you live.

Initial legal consultation · Hourly fee

Time-based billing under a fee agreement.

How the price is setAn agreed hourly rate, billed to the minute. The rate and a cap are recorded in writing in advance.
When it makes senseWith extensive documents, or where the advisory need goes beyond a short conversation.

Out-of-court representation · Fixed price

Correspondence with the opposing party, an authority or an insurer at a fixed price.

What happensLetters, setting deadlines, negotiation, draft settlement – without a court.
How the price is setA fixed price for a delimited package, for instance an objection to a decision, review and challenge of a service charge statement, or a single contract review.
When it makes senseWhen the effort is foreseeable and you need planning certainty.

Out-of-court representation · RVG

Statutory business fee based on the value of the matter.

How the price is setBusiness fee under no. 2300 VV RVG, as a rule 1.3 fee units based on the value of the matter, plus a flat expense allowance and VAT. A higher rate is possible in extensive or difficult matters.
SettlementIf a settlement is reached, a settlement fee arises in addition.
Check it yourselfRVG calculator ↗︎ – to estimate the value of the matter.
Legal expenses coverLegal expenses insurance may cover these costs. We prepare the request for cover; billing runs through you and you obtain reimbursement from your insurer.
Legal aid for adviceOn a low income the public purse largely covers the advice; a 15 € contribution remains payable. The entitlement certificate is issued by the local court where you live.

Out-of-court representation · Hourly fee

Time-based billing instead of a value-based fee.

How the price is setAn agreed hourly rate under a written fee agreement, with interim invoicing and an agreed budget.
When it makes senseWith a very high value and little effort – or conversely a low value and high effort.
NoteLegal expenses insurers generally reimburse only up to the statutory fees; you bear the difference.

Court proceedings · Fixed price

Only possible to a limited extent.

How the price is setFixed prices are only permissible to a limited degree for court work: a fee agreement may not fall below the statutory fees (§ 49b BRAO). In practice a fixed price is therefore only an option above the RVG fees.
What is addedCourt costs, the opposing party's costs if you lose, plus expert and witness costs.
BeforehandBefore filing a claim we discuss the entire cost risk and possible alternatives.

Court proceedings · RVG

The standard case in court.

How the price is setProcedural fee and hearing fee based on the amount in dispute, plus expenses and VAT. In criminal matters, framework fees apply instead, based on the scope and significance of the proceedings.
Cost riskWhoever loses generally also bears the court costs and the opposing party's necessary costs. Special rules apply in employment and criminal matters.
Legal expenses coverLegal expenses insurance may cover these costs. We prepare the request for cover; billing runs through you and you obtain reimbursement from your insurer.
Legal aid for litigationFor court proceedings: on a low income and with sufficient prospects of success, the public purse covers the costs in full or against instalments. Application before or with the claim.

Court proceedings · Hourly fee

A time-based fee above the statutory fees.

How the price is setAn agreed hourly rate; the statutory fees form the lower limit. The agreement is made in writing and before work begins.
ReimbursementIf you win, the opposing party only reimburses the statutory fees – you bear the difference to the agreed fee.
When it makes senseIn complex proceedings with high coordination effort and a low amount in dispute.
Legal aid for proceedingsFor out-of-court proceedings of a procedural nature and family-law-related proceedings – assessed on income and assets.
Legal aid for litigationFor court proceedings: on a low income and with sufficient prospects of success, the public purse covers the costs in full or against instalments. Application before or with the claim.

Initial orientation, not a binding statement of costs. The actual costs depend on the individual case and are expressly clarified with you before work begins.

How it works

From enquiry to representation.

The same process for every matter – regardless of area of law and language.

Enquiry

Your matter reaches us via the form, by telephone or by e-mail.

Capacity and conflict-of-interest check

We check competence, available capacity and possible conflicts of interest.

Clarification of costs

The billing model and expected costs are discussed openly.

Acceptance of the engagement

Only express confirmation creates the lawyer–client engagement.

Submission of documents

Missing documents are identified and transmitted securely.

Advice or representation

Legal work begins – including deadline monitoring.

Legal review, advice and deadline monitoring only begin once the engagement has been expressly accepted. This page does not replace legal advice in an individual case.

Knowledge base

What to do in the actual situation.

Not a blog, but seven situations in which days matter. Every entry ends with the matching list of documents.

What to do after a summons?

You do not have to attend a police summons as an accused person; there is no obligation to make a statement. You have the right to remain silent – and exercising it does not count against you. The sensible first step is access to the case file: only once you know what is alleged and what the allegation rests on can you decide whether making a statement helps. A summons from the public prosecutor or the court has different legal consequences. Contact us before the date.

Documents we need
  • Complete summons letter, with all pages
  • File reference and name of the investigating authority
  • The date on which the document was received or formally served
  • Any earlier letters in the same matter
  • Whether a statement has already been made
Request defence ↗︎
Which documents does the immigration authority need?

Which documents are required depends on the purpose of residence – employment, study, family reunification or a settlement permit each lead to different lists. Identity, secured livelihood, housing, health insurance and language skills are checked in almost every case. Incomplete applications are the most common cause of delay. We compile the list before the application is filed.

Documents we need
  • Passport, all pages with stamps, plus previous residence permits
  • Registration certificate and tenancy agreement
  • Employment contract and the last three payslips
  • Proof of health insurance
  • Language certificate, if available
  • Marriage, birth or custody certificates for family reunification, with translation
Request a procedure plan ↗︎
Received a court order for payment: which deadline applies?

From the date on which the order for payment was served you have two weeks to file an objection. The period starts on the date shown on the yellow service envelope, not on the date of the order. If no objection is filed, an enforcement order may follow – after which only an appeal within two weeks remains possible. The objection does not need to be reasoned; it merely keeps the proceedings open. Keep the envelope, it proves the date served.

Documents we need
  • Complete order for payment, with file reference
  • Envelope showing the date on which the document was served
  • Objection form, if enclosed
  • Invoice or contract the claim is based on
  • Correspondence with the opposing party to date
Have the objection reviewed ↗︎
What may a legal guardian decide?

Only what the court has expressly defined as an area of responsibility – for instance health care, financial affairs, dealings with authorities or housing matters. Outside those areas there is no power of representation. The person under guardianship remains legally competent unless otherwise ordered, and their wishes are decisive. Particularly intrusive measures – such as placement in an institution or terminating the tenancy – additionally require court approval.

Documents we need
  • Guardian ID or certificate of appointment
  • Guardianship court order listing the areas of responsibility
  • Any existing health-care proxy or guardianship directive
  • Recent letters from authorities, banks or institutions
  • Medical records, if available
Discuss guardianship ↗︎
Received a service charge statement: what should be checked?

The statement must reach you no later than twelve months after the end of the accounting period – after that the landlord can generally no longer demand a further payment. What can be checked: the allocation key, whether individual items may be passed on at all, administration and maintenance costs that must not be allocated, and the advance payments actually made. You are entitled to inspect the receipts. Objections must be raised within twelve months of receiving the statement.

Documents we need
  • Complete service charge statement, with all annexes
  • Tenancy agreement, in particular the clause on operating costs
  • Statements from the two previous years for comparison
  • Proof of advance payments made
  • The date on which the statement was received
Have the statement reviewed ↗︎
Received notice to quit: what applies now?

Ordinary notice by the landlord is only effective with a legitimate interest – such as own use or a serious breach of contract – and the notice must state those reasons. Depending on the length of the tenancy the notice period is three, six or nine months. Termination without notice for arrears can, in certain cases, be rendered ineffective by paying the arrears in full within two months of service of the eviction claim. You may object up to two months before the notice period expires at the latest.

Documents we need
  • Notice letter with envelope and date served
  • Tenancy agreement with all amendments
  • Proof of rent paid over the last twelve months
  • Correspondence with the landlord
  • Documents on grounds of hardship, e.g. medical certificate, proof of severe disability, school certificate
Have the notice reviewed ↗︎
Rejection by the immigration authority: what to do?

What matters is the notice of legal remedies at the end of the administrative decision: it states the deadline, the form and the competent body. As a rule, one month from the date served applies for an objection or a court action. The period runs from the day of service, not from the date of the decision. If it is missed, the decision becomes final and can only be challenged in narrow exceptional cases. Where there is an obligation to leave the country, an urgent application may also be necessary.

Documents we need
  • Complete administrative decision, including the notice of legal remedies
  • Envelope or certificate of service showing the date served
  • Application and all documents submitted
  • Passport and previous residence permits
  • Correspondence with the authority
Secure the deadline ↗︎
Costs, engagement & confidentiality

Frequently asked questions about legal work.

Transparency from the outset: how advice and representation are billed, how a lawyer–client engagement comes about and what you can rely on.

Is the initial legal consultation free of charge?
No. Legal advice is a service that carries a fee. For an initial consultation with consumers the law sets an upper limit: under § 34 RVG the fee for an initial consultation is capped at 190 € net (plus VAT), unless a different fee agreement is made. We discuss the exact framework openly with you before we start.

Read § 34 RVG ↗︎
Can I bill through my legal expenses insurance?
Billing with the legal expenses insurer runs exclusively through you as the client. We are happy to support you, prepare the request for cover and compile the necessary documents. Our invoices are, however, addressed to you and are usually settled by you – you then obtain reimbursement from your insurer.
How are legal costs calculated?
Without a separate fee agreement, fees follow the German Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG). In civil and administrative matters remuneration is based on the value of the matter or the amount in dispute (value-based fees under the RVG). In criminal matters framework fees apply instead, determined within a statutory range according to the scope and significance of the proceedings. We work with clearly named billing models:

Initial legal consultation – for consumers capped at 190 € net under § 34 RVG.Fixed price – for clearly delimited services such as a contract review or an objection.Hourly fee – by fee agreement, for ongoing support without a fixed value of the matter.RVG – statutory fees based on the value of the matter, framework fees in criminal matters.Legal expenses insurance – we prepare the request for cover; billing runs through you.Legal aid for advice and for litigation – for people on a low income; we tell you whether the requirements may be met.
Estimate the costs yourself in advance:

RVG calculator (rvg-rechner.de) ↗︎  ·  Full text of the RVG ↗︎
When does a lawyer–client engagement come about?
A lawyer–client engagement exists only once we have expressly confirmed that we are taking the matter on and the costs have been clarified. The engagement agreement and power of attorney regularly document the agreed scope. An engagement does not arise incidentally through an enquiry, a conversation or a message – legal work on your matter begins only after express confirmation.
Is the information I provide confidential?
Yes. Lawyers are bound by professional confidentiality obligations (among others § 43a BRAO). What you entrust to us stays confidential and is handled securely. Please send particularly sensitive documents only via a suitable, protected channel – not via open channels such as WhatsApp.
How is liability covered?
Mistakes are human and can never be entirely ruled out, however careful one is – even though clear processes, deadline control and the four-eyes principle do a great deal to prevent them. Should a mistake nevertheless occur, our professional indemnity insuranceapplies. It covers the loss suffered so that you as a client are not disadvantaged.