Short Answer
You should utilize the national bar directory to locate an accredited specialist attorney who has passed certified state examinations in your specific legal area. General practice lawyers are legally permitted to advertise international services without holding formal advanced qualifications.
What Most Expats Don't Realize
You hired a neighborhood generalist attorney to manage your complex corporate visa extension process. The lawyer missed a critical administrative sub-clause in the immigration act, causing the authorities to reject your application and issue an order to leave the country. You lost €2,500 on application fees and emergency appeals because you hired an unaccredited general practitioner instead of a certified expert.
What To Do
- Open the official search directory of the German Bar Association online.
- Filter the results specifically by the title "Fachanwalt" alongside your city and your preferred language.
- "Haben Sie den Fachanwaltstitel in diesem Rechtsgebiet?" (Do you hold the specialist attorney title in this legal field?) — ask this to the lawyer during your initial consultation to confirm their accredited status.
The Truth
The regulatory system allows any baseline attorney to claim international focus, but only a true Fachanwalt has completed the rigorous state-monitored testing required for that specialty. In the intricate local framework, employing a generalist frequently results in a waste of money.