A Quick Guide: The ABCs of Law
For many people, reaching out to a law firm feels unfamiliar. That’s why you’ll find brief, clear answers here about how communication with me works, how I work, and what it all costs.
From Initial Contact to the Assignment
The path to me has three distinct stages. You decide for yourself where to start.
1. Free initial consultation
A brief preliminary consultation lasting no more than 15 minutes—free of charge and with absolutely no obligation. The purpose is for us to get to know each other and for me to determine whether I’m the right person to handle your matter. I won’t be conducting an in-depth review of your case at this stage, nor will I be reviewing any documents beforehand. If you’d like to discuss documents relevant to your case, please have them ready.
2. Initial Consultation
If you’re looking for a reliable legal assessment, the initial consultation will follow. Whenever possible, I’ll review your documents in advance, examine the facts of the case, and provide you with a well-founded analysis along with possible courses of action—all at a fixed price determined in advance. Anything that helps clarify the facts of the case is useful for this process: correspondence, contracts, or important deadlines. If you have legal expense insurance, please have your insurance information ready. If anything is missing, we’ll work it out together.
3. Term of Office
If you retain me, I will represent your interests externally, whether in or out of court. You will sign a power of attorney and—where appropriate—a fee agreement. I will handle all correspondence, deadlines, and communication, and keep you informed of any new developments.
How I Work
At my law firm, I am the only one who handles the legal aspects of your case—unlike at many large law firms, where cases often end up with a rotating cast of case managers or junior associates. At the same time, I never rely on standard templates to replace a case-by-case review, as is often the case with legal tech solutions.
I offer personalized and tailored legal services at a reasonable price. This combination is made possible in part by my use of modern, AI-powered tools for routine tasks—though I always retain the final say on the substance of the matter.
I use a fully digital case management system: Your documents are organized and recorded, deadlines are systematically monitored, and I can access your case quickly from anywhere. You can send me documents via a secure, personal upload area—encrypted and directly assigned to your file, without large email attachments.
Everything you entrust to me is subject to attorney-client privilege. This privilege is protected by law and applies indefinitely—regardless of whether a retainer agreement is ultimately entered into.
How much it costs
Lawyers' fees often seem opaque—but they don't have to be. I discuss the costs openly before they are incurred.
Initial Consultation
The brief introductory meeting (max. 15 minutes) is free of charge and non-binding.
Initial Consultation
At a fixed price that I agree on with you in advance. Legally capped for consumers: a maximum of 190 euros plus VAT (§ 34 RVG). If we proceed with the retainer, I will credit the fee. This means that the costs incurred for the initial consultation will be deducted from subsequent fees.
Statutory fees or fee agreement
The costs of legal representation are calculated either according to the statutory fee schedule (fees based on the value of the matter or the amount of work involved) or on an individual basis, such as on an hourly or flat-rate basis. You can find details on the statutory fee schedule below.
Legal Expense Insurance
I will check coverage and, if requested, submit the coverage inquiry on your behalf. Insurance companies generally cover only the statutory RVG fees—if individual billing applies, I will inform you in advance of any potential difference.
No hidden costs
You will be informed of the cost structure before I begin working on your case. I will bring up any foreseeable additional costs—such as court fees or expert witness fees—as soon as they become a possibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an initial meeting and an initial consultation?
The initial consultation is a free, no-obligation preliminary discussion lasting no more than 15 minutes—without reviewing any documents. The initial legal consultation is the actual legal review of your case, including a review of your documents, at a fixed price agreed upon in advance.
Am I obligated to do anything after the initial consultation?
No. The initial consultation does not obligate you to anything. You are free to decide whether you would like to proceed with an initial consultation or retain our services.
What is the difference between consulting and representation?
During a consultation, I will assess your situation from a legal perspective and outline your options. When representing you, I will act on your behalf in dealings with the opposing party, government agencies, or the courts.
What is the purpose of the power of attorney?
The basis for my actions is your instructions—on this basis, I can in many cases already act on your behalf, even without the power of attorney having been submitted yet. The power of attorney serves as written proof: It demonstrates to courts, government agencies, and the opposing party that a mandate exists and what its scope is.
How is statutory compensation calculated in civil cases?
In civil cases where no fee agreement has been entered into, the fee is based on the value in dispute. Put simply, this is the economic value of the matter. For example, in the case of a monetary claim, the amount of that claim is often the determining factor. The higher the value in dispute, the higher the statutory fees may be.
Examples:
| Case | Potential value in dispute |
|---|---|
| Unpaid Invoice | Amount of the Claim |
| Claim for Damages | Amount of Damages Sought |
| Protection Against Dismissal or Claims That Cannot Be Quantified | Value is determined in accordance with statutory valuation rules or at the discretion of the assessor |
If the value cannot be clearly determined and is not otherwise established, it may be determined at the attorney’s reasonable discretion. For non-pecuniary matters, the RVG specifies 5,000 euros as a starting point, which may be lower or higher depending on the case, but not to exceed 500,000 euros.
If fees are based on the value of the matter, the RVG provides for so-called value-based fees. For a value of up to 500 euros, the fee is 51.50 euros; beyond that, the fee increases in steps. A fee schedule covering amounts up to 500,000 euros is attached to the RVG as an appendix. The fee schedule is freely available online.
How is statutory compensation calculated in criminal cases?
Criminal cases usually do not involve a monetary value, as is the case with a claim. For this reason, attorneys’ fees in such cases are often not calculated based on the value in dispute, but rather according to a fee schedule. With flat-rate fees, the attorney determines the specific fee on a case-by-case basis at his or her reasonable discretion. Key criteria include, in particular:
- Scope of legal services,
- The difficulty of the matter,
- Significance of the matter,
- The client's income and financial circumstances,
- a particular liability risk, if applicable.
Since the standard fees often do not cover the costs incurred, a fee agreement is regularly entered into, sometimes in combination with the statutory fee.
Can I send documents securely?
Yes. You can upload documents securely via the secure upload area, which is safer than sending them by email; they are assigned directly to your file.
Will my information be kept confidential?
Yes. Everything you tell me is subject to attorney-client privilege and data protection laws—even if we do not establish a client-attorney relationship.
Direkt zum Recht
- Telefon 030 23258357Mo–Fr 14–16 Uhr
- E-Mail anfrage@rakff.deAntwort innerhalb von 24 Stunden
- Adresse Gneisenaustr. 115, 10961 BerlinU Mehringdamm (U6, U7), eine Minute zu Fuß
