A Rechtsanwalt is a professional who has been licensed to practice law. They can advise you and represent you in court if necessary, but their main role is to protect your interests.
A good, qualified, and competent lawyer is indispensable when it comes to business and personal issues. This is why you need to get to know them well and trust them.
The first step is to make sure that they are a member of the bar. This means that they have passed a rigorous and thorough examination of their legal knowledge. This can be done by asking for references from existing clients or by contacting the Bar Association themselves.
They will also be required to sign up to a code of ethics which sets out the minimum standards for them in their professional conduct. They will have to keep their client s confidential information in confidence, and not disclose it unless the client has given them permission to do so.
You can contact them by fax, email or telephone. They can then provide you with a quote to carry out the work.
German law is codified so there is not a lot of need for written engagement contracts and fee agreements (although it is possible to do these in the case of public sector lawyers). This is because most of what you would consider relevant for a lawyer-client relationship is regulated by black letter law anyway.
One of the many aspects that are regulated by black letter law in Germany is secrecy. This means that a lawyer cannot withhold certain information, for example, from the government or other organisations that have a legal responsibility to report on them.
The lawyer can be prosecuted for withholding information, like any other citizen.
Another target group for the ombudswoman is persons who are themselves involved in corruption, or benefit from it or profit from it. This includes GIZ personnel, as well as people and entities that are engaged in specific activities for the organisation, such as obtaining equipment or materials.
If a person is suspected of corruption, they will usually be put in contact with an external lawyer who specialises in dealing with cases of this type. This lawyer will ensure that confidentiality is maintained, not least because their profession demands it.
In addition, they will often be asked to assist the police with investigations into corrupt activities.
They will then work with the authorities to ensure that they are able to bring the corrupt parties to justice. This may include arranging an independent investigation, or assisting with the prosecution of the guilty party. They can also help with the recovery of any losses that have been incurred due to corruption.