Specialist lawyer for employment law – these are the advantages for employees

If employees have a problem with employment law, the following advice is quickly given: Go to the Specialist lawyer for labor lawSuch a lawyer will not bear his title without reason. The designation “Specialist Lawyer for Employment Law” testifies to his specialization on labor law and its comprehensive Experience values.

But are employees' hopes of hiring a good lawyer, a specialist in employment law, really justified? I want to clarify this for you in this article. In this article, I will show you

• what the Specialist lawyer for labor law indicates,
• How Lawyers can acquire the title,
• which potential benefits such a lawyer has compared to a “normal” lawyer and
• whether you can rely on the title for your employment law case.

After reading this article carefully, you'll know exactly what the title is about. And you'll know which lawyer you should consult if you have an employment law issue.

A notice: The following article reflects my personal assessment and is based on my experience.

What is a specialist employment lawyer?

At a "Specialist lawyer for labor law“It is first of all a title, which is run by lawyers. It is administered by the competent Bar Association awarded upon application (Information sheet from the Hamburg Bar AssociationThis title indicates to the outside world that a lawyer specializes in labor law and has acquired additional qualifications.

In order for lawyers to be able to use the title “Specialist Lawyer for Employment Law”, they must have certain legal Requirements The exact specifications are contained in the Specialist Lawyers Act for the Area of Labor Law In principle, lawyers must meet the following criteria:

• You must at least 3 years as a lawyer be approved.
• You must also Specialist lawyer course for labor law have successfully completed.
• Finally, it is necessary that they have a certain Number of cases in labor law.

We will come to the exact requirements shortly. At this point, we can state that there is quite a lot that goes into becoming a specialist lawyer for employment law. First and foremost, lawyers must Decision decide that employment law should play a decisive role in their legal work.

For my part, I have specialized in labor law very early onFor me, it was a given that I would immediately complete the specialist lawyer training in employment law after being admitted to the bar and, after three years, apply for admission as a specialist lawyer in employment law.

However, the title "Specialist in Employment Law" alone does not mean that lawyers must only work in this area. They are still lawyers and can handle other legal areas. Some lawyers even have several specialist lawyer titles.

For me it is out of the questionto work in other areas of law as well. I am a specialist lawyer for employment law and have decided to work exclusively in this area. Because employment law is multifaceted and complicated enough to fulfill me as a lawyer. And: I enjoy it the most.

How does a lawyer become a specialist in employment law?

As already indicated, lawyers must have certain Requirements to become a specialist lawyer for employment law. I have already written that lawyers must have been admitted to the bar for at least three years to even be able to apply. However, they can fulfill the necessary requirements beforehand, i.e. theoretical part complete and the necessary Number of cases collect.

Theoretical part

A prerequisite for obtaining the title of specialist lawyer for employment law is the successful completion of a Specialist lawyer course for labor lawThere are certified providers that offer the specialist lawyer training program. I chose the renowned provider DeutscheAnwaltAkademie and benefited from top-notch instructors.

The course to become a specialist lawyer for employment law must include at least one Duration of 120 hours This specialist lawyer training course must impart knowledge in all important areas of employment law. This includes Individual labor law just like the Collective labor law or the Social security lawThe knowledge imparted is comprehensive and seamless. At least, that's how it was for me.

After completing the various modules, candidates for the title of specialist lawyer for employment law three five-hour exams write – and of course pass.

Practical part

Parallel to the completion of the specialist lawyer training course, the lawyers collect the necessary cases in employment law in order to be able to apply for admission to the relevant bar association. In total, in employment law 100 cases processed from various areas.

Among other things, it is also necessary Cases from collective labor law and pension law. This is not so easy for some lawyers. For me, it was not a problem, as I had a collective legal focus I advise and represent Works councils primarily with my law firm.

At the time of application, I had handled well over 100 cases and submitted approximately 130 cases – better safe than sorry.

Are specialist lawyers better employment lawyers?

I could now say, “Of course, specialist employment lawyers are better,” since I hold that title myself. However, my goal is to provide you, as an employee, with the best possible information and transparency So, let me be clear right from the start: Just because someone is a specialist in labor law doesn't mean they're better at labor law than other lawyers.

I know lawyers who are not specialized in labor law, but who nevertheless have a lot to offer employees in labor law. But I can say one thing with certainty: If someone has the title of specialized lawyer in labor law, then the probability already quite high that he is a genuine interest in labor law and has prepared many cases in this area.

In other words: Such a lawyer probably has a lot of Experience in labor law and is specialized. There is another important detail: Specialist lawyers for employment law can only retain this title if they have been trained for at least 15 hours of continuing education in labor lawThey must provide evidence of this to the Bar Association.

Fifteen hours doesn't sound like much? Perhaps, but in the hectic career of a lawyer, it's a lot. As for me, I pursue a level of continuing education that exceeds this limit. I invest about one hour a day in my training and read specialist articles. I also train works councils about once a month in labor law and works constitution law.

But back to the topic. I do think that, as an employee, you can let the title "Specialist in Employment Law" guide your decision for or against a lawyer. But is that really enough? More on that in a moment.

As an employee, can I rely on the title as a mark of quality?

As an employee looking for an employment lawyer (By the way, I know a 😉), you're facing a challenge. You don't know which lawyer is good, nor do you know the criteria that could help you in this regard. But if a lawyer has the title "Specialist in Employment Law," then employees can rely on that, right?

I would say: Yes and no. A lawyer with such a title can prove that he profound has dealt with labour law and numerous cases processed And in principle, more cases also mean more experience and routine. In a way, the title is definitely a Quality surrogate.

On the other hand, this may not be true in every respect. It's certainly possible that a lawyer has "snatched" the title, kept it warm, but actually handles cases primarily in tenancy law, for example. I also know lawyers who also work as notaries and primarily practice notarial services.

Therefore, if I were an employee, I would not rely on the designation alone. More targeted It might be best to contact a lawyer or a law firm that is committed to only labor law That's a good indicator that you're in good hands.

As I said, the Labor law is a universe of its own, which is strongly influenced by case law. Having a good overview and knowing the pieces of the puzzle requires a very intensive continuous engagement with this highly dynamic area of law. Until retirement separates labor law and lawyers—or not.

My personal opinion is that employment law completely fulfills a lawyer. At least when the goal is to deliver consistently high-quality work for clients. Regardless of whether they represent employers, employees, or works councils. However, there may also be fellow lawyers who manage the balancing act well and are simply very talented. I prefer to work hard on myself and my employment law skills and to constantly stay in training.

Are specialist lawyers well-versed in all aspects of employment law?

Employment law is a vast area of law. It has many facets, and I doubt that a specialist employment lawyer can act confidently in every area of employment law. Lawyers encounter certain case scenarios that arise repeatedly, and where a certain wealth of experience can develop. Then there are atypical constellations, which even an experienced labor lawyer needs to get his bearings. Moreover, there are areas of labor law that may be less familiar to a labor lawyer.

For me, for example, it is the case that I mainly Employees and works councils I have in-depth knowledge and experience in the field Termination, Termination agreements and remunerationWhen it comes to collective labor law, the industrial constitution law for works councils, no one can fool me that easily.

On the other hand, I'm staying away from occupational pension law, for example. It's not my area of expertise; it doesn't really interest me. At the same time, I'm naturally striving to become a as comprehensive knowledge as possible to build up and am very interested in anything new.

Being able to say at the end, “I heard something about that” or “there was a decision about that” is a good basis in employment law for making progress and achieving a lot for clients.

What makes a good employment law specialist?

In my opinion, what makes a good employment law specialist is what makes every good lawyer. Of course, the lawyer should are keenly interested in labour lawHe should have a rich knowledge of labor law and keep it up to date. In addition, it should also be daily legal practice Advise and represent clients in employment law day in and day out.

This would give the specialist employment lawyer a good professional basis created. But there's so much more to being a good lawyer. A lawyer's expertise alone only goes so far—or rather, only partially leads his client to success. Especially in negotiations with the opposing side or in court, there are often highly dynamic processes. Communication and negotiation psychology processes occur subliminally if the lawyer is unaware of them and isn't aware of them. Therefore, it's important that a specialist employment lawyer also has an understanding of communication and negotiation psychology.

In my experience, clients also value – and quite rightly so – a good service orientation of the lawyer. Employees expect a good employment lawyer to give them the space they desire. This includes giving employees the opportunity to To describe the case calmly and their to communicate interestsEmployees want to be kept informed about the lawyer's work and the status of the case. Therefore, a good lawyer must possess all the attributes that are geared toward meeting these client expectations.

Especially with the last point, as I have repeatedly experienced in discussions with clients, there are sometimes significant differences. As far as I'm concerned, it's very important to me to support my clients and keep them up to date. Even more, I would like to to them and their real interests – because only when the interests are on the table do I, as a lawyer, know in which direction I need to steer the case.

In addition, I am always aware that interests can change, that new developments can give. That's why it's important not to just talk once, but to seek out the conversation several times. This takes time, but it's worth it to me. Of course, there's a limit—five calls a day is too much. But that's also what distinguishes a good lawyer: setting boundaries so that important legal matters can be handled carefully.

Where can I find specialist employment law attorneys?

Finding a specialist lawyer for employment law is not difficult. relevant internet search will bring you numerous results. You'll then be spoiled for choice: Which specialist lawyer should you choose? I've already outlined some points that may be helpful in your decision-making process. If you're interested in a law firm, just pick up the phone and ask for a short conversation with the lawyerthat you have chosen. You will then quickly see whether it human and professional fits.

On relevant search portals such as anwalt.de You can search for lawyers in a targeted manner and get a concentrated selection of candidatesYou'll usually also find reviews of individual lawyers to help you make your selection.

Otherwise, of course, your Family and friends A valuable resource when it comes to finding a good specialist in employment law. If, for example, a lawyer has achieved a very good result for a friend and is full of praise, that's already a good indication of the quality of the specialist's work.