- The earlier a legal consultation in criminal law takes place, the greater the chances of success.
- More than half of all criminal cases can be resolved out of court.
- Often, there is only a need for information or clarification without requiring legal representation.
- Sometimes, a well-founded second opinion or independent assessment is all that is needed.
Criminal law Munich
Criminal defense Munich
Specialist lawyer for criminal law Munich
Criminal Law
Consultation
If criminal investigations are initiated or feared, professional legal advice in criminal law is essential and decisive. Many people seeking legal assistance initially want only a first assessment of their legal options or guidance on how to proceed, without immediately committing to an expensive legal engagement.
Before hiring a lawyer, it is advisable to find one who specializes in the relevant area of criminal law and first obtain an initial consultation. During this consultation, the client can personally get to know the lawyer, ask critical questions, and assess their expertise and experience to form an independent opinion on their competence.
This process also helps determine whether legal representation is necessary or if the client is simply seeking answers to specific legal questions or an initial assessment of the situation, including the chances of success and possible consequences in both the best and worst cases.
Ultimately, an initial consultation in criminal law serves as a decision-making basis to determine whether the selected lawyer is the “right one”—both in terms of expertise and experience as well as personal rapport.
Our law firm offers comprehensive initial consultations in criminal law to provide clients with the necessary foundation for making an informed decision about whether to proceed with legal representation and to evaluate the potential chances of success in their case.
Please bring all case-related documents to your initial consultation, particularly any correspondence from the judiciary or the police, such as indictments, penalty orders, subpoenas for questioning, search warrants, arrest warrants (for relatives), and official records. It is also helpful to outline the facts of the case beforehand from your perspective. Both the lawyer and their staff are legally bound to absolute confidentiality, even during the initial consultation.
An objective assessment of the case is only possible if the lawyer is provided with the most comprehensive information available, especially if they have not yet reviewed the investigation file.
Since criminal proceedings involve a wide range of possible scenarios and significant discretionary leeway, the competence and experience of the lawyer are crucial—similar to a doctor in the medical field. In criminal law, success largely depends on choosing the right lawyer. No other legal area presents as many different consequences and variations in case resolution as criminal law.
The consequences of a criminal proceeding or even a conviction can be severe: long-term entries in criminal records and government databases, loss of driving, business, or other reliability-dependent licenses, as well as difficulties in employment and international travel, especially to countries like the USA.
In no other area of law can a competent legal defense be as decisive in shaping the outcome as in criminal law!
Second Opinion
When it comes to fundamental decisions, people often seek a second professional opinion.
Since criminal law involves high stakes—sometimes even everything is at risk—we offer independent assessments and consultations in criminal law without requiring clients to hire a second lawyer or change their current legal representation.
Although switching lawyers in criminal law is possible at any stage of the proceedings without complications, such a step should be carefully considered. On the other hand, a confirming second opinion can be crucial in determining the next course of action.
A neutral second assessment is particularly valuable when deciding on a defense strategy (confession, acquittal, conflict, or team defense) or whether to file an appeal.
There are also situations where an experienced local lawyer knows the case, the client, and the court well but may require the support of an external specialist for specific legal issues or confrontational defense strategies to ensure the best possible legal representation.
In such cases, we are regularly approached by both clients and local colleagues to help assemble an optimal defense team or strengthen an existing one.
Feel free to contact us if needed. You can, of course, approach us with full confidence. As part of our professional confidentiality, we are also bound to absolute secrecy toward lawyers already involved in a case.
In some cases, selecting lawyers from different law firms with different specializations can be beneficial. Specialized areas such as business, medical, sexual, and tax criminal law require specific expertise, and their procedural enforcement often requires an experienced trial lawyer—especially considering the importance of legal remedies, which must be strategically prepared from the very first trial.
Even if the court has already appointed a public defender, a client may still wish to hire an additional private lawyer for the reasons mentioned above.
Many people are unaware that in criminal law, defendants can be represented by more than one lawyer at any time. For example, a second lawyer can be appointed for the criminal proceedings. In fact, criminal procedural law allows up to three freely chosen lawyers per defendant in addition to any court-appointed public defender.
Given the serious consequences of a criminal proceeding, it is crucial to be fully confident in the abilities of one’s lawyer. The stakes are often extremely high, sometimes even life-altering, considering the severe repercussions of criminal law, such as entries in criminal records, hefty fines or prison sentences, and significant professional and personal consequences in the event of a conviction.
Many clients face the dilemma of what to do if they are no longer 100% sure about their lawyer’s competence. This could be due to feeling misadvised, expecting a better outcome, or because another lawyer has promised significantly better results. Sometimes, interpersonal issues or doubts arise, or a client may receive a recommendation for a supposedly “better” or more specialized lawyer. Often, individuals start searching for a new lawyer only after losing a trial to handle an appeal.
In other cases, a client may be satisfied with their lawyer but, due to the risks involved in criminal proceedings, seek a second opinion or additional support—perhaps from a lawyer with a specific specialization or an experienced trial attorney.
If, for example, a client wants to retain their current lawyer but also bring in a specialist in a specific area of criminal law (such as business or sexual offenses) or an experienced trial attorney (which is highly recommended for a confrontational defense strategy), this is always possible without dismissing the current lawyer.
In cases involving severe penalties and/or high public interest—such as sexual offenses, detention cases, or white-collar crimes with substantial financial damage—the defendant faces an overwhelming number of procedural opponents, including prosecutors, co-plaintiffs, lay judges, often biased expert witnesses, and even media scrutiny. Additionally, a conviction in a regional court effectively eliminates the chance for a full review of the evidence by a higher court. The pressure on the client is immense, and any defense misstep carries significant weight, given the limited options for appealing a regional court ruling.
Following the principle that “four eyes see more than two,” hiring an additional lawyer can help level the playing field against the prosecution. A team-based defense allows for a more aggressive cross-examination of witnesses. A lying prosecution witness, for example, will have little time to fabricate consistent false answers when being questioned by multiple lawyers. Additionally, a specialized team of lawyers is more effective at identifying legal and procedural errors made by the court, filing motions in real-time, objecting to procedural violations, and preparing legal arguments during the trial.
Just like an initial consultation, seeking a second opinion is entirely non-binding for the client. Depending on the complexity of the case, the legal fees for this service can be clearly outlined in advance to prevent hidden costs.
Ultimately, a (first) legal consultation in criminal law also serves as a decision-making foundation for determining whether the chosen lawyer is the “right one”—both in terms of expertise and experience and in terms of interpersonal compatibility.
Our law firm offers comprehensive (initial) consultations in criminal law to provide clients with the necessary foundation for making an informed decision about whether to proceed with legal representation and to evaluate the potential chances of success in their case.
Please bring all case-related documents to your initial consultation, particularly any correspondence from the judiciary or the police, such as indictments, penalty orders, subpoenas for questioning, search warrants, arrest warrants (for relatives), and official records. It is also helpful to outline the facts of the case beforehand from your perspective. Both the lawyer and their staff are legally bound to absolute confidentiality, even during the initial consultation.
An objective assessment of the case is only possible if the lawyer is provided with the most comprehensive information available, especially if they have not yet reviewed the investigation file.
Since criminal proceedings involve a wide range of possible scenarios and significant discretionary leeway, the competence and experience of the lawyer are crucial—similar to a doctor in the medical field. In criminal law, success largely depends on choosing the right lawyer. No other legal area presents as many different consequences and variations in case resolution as criminal law.
The consequences of a criminal proceeding or even a conviction can be severe: long-term entries in criminal records and government databases, loss of driving, business, or other reliability-dependent licenses, as well as difficulties in employment and international travel, especially to countries like the USA.
In no other area of law can a competent legal defense be as decisive in shaping the outcome as in criminal law!
Requests for Relatives
Of course, family members and close friends want the best for the accused, who often feel unable to manage their own defense effectively. This is especially true in pre-trial detention, for minors, or for those who have mistakenly relied on a favorable outcome for too long. Therefore, friends, partners, or family members can always consult a lawyer on behalf of the accused or seek a second opinion if necessary.
What Can Relatives Do?
When a partner, relative, or close friend is accused of a crime, the question quickly arises as to what relatives or friends can do to help.
We have summarized the most common questions and key information regarding lawyer selection, legal representation, and the possibility of testifying as a witness.
Prison: Visits and Engagement by Relatives
For detainees, securing the right legal defense is crucial. In pre-trial detention, individuals are often left without resources to research or select a suitable lawyer. They may not have internet access to search for experienced defense attorneys or conduct preliminary phone consultations to make an informed decision.
Often, newly arrested individuals are only given outdated legal directories or are advised to contact attorneys who are known to work closely with law enforcement. This is where relatives and friends can play a vital role—just as you would seek a specialist for a serious medical condition, you should ensure that the right lawyer is chosen for a serious legal matter.
As a family member, friend, or acquaintance, you can engage a lawyer on behalf of the accused and authorize them for visits.
An experienced defense attorney will explore all possible avenues to secure a quick release from detention. If pre-trial detention is unavoidable, you may wish to visit your partner, relative, or friend to provide support and improve their conditions. Below, we have outlined some practical tips for arranging visits and providing assistance.
Costs
Legal fees for attorneys are regulated and must be paid accordingly. Every case is unique and requires an individual assessment, which takes time and expertise. A good legal defense costs money—anything else is both unprofessional and unrealistic.
We believe that every legal consultation should be thorough and tailored to the specifics of the case. For this reason, we dedicate the necessary time to each initial consultation.
For an initial consultation, we charge a fee of €226.10 according to the German Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (RVG). This fee is payable at our office upon arrival (card payments accepted). A formal invoice will be provided.
The fee applies regardless of the duration of the consultation or the complexity of the legal issue. This ensures that clients have financial transparency with no hidden costs.
The initial consultation fee of €226.10 applies to both in-person and remote consultations (via phone or video call). However, we highly recommend in-person meetings at our office, as experience shows that clients gain a much clearer impression of our services this way.
Simply requesting an appointment does not incur any costs.
In highly complex cases, meaningful initial consultations may require preliminary work by the lawyer, such as reviewing extensive documents. In such cases, a separate fee agreement may be required, but this will always be communicated clearly in advance with full cost transparency.
It is important to note that no fees are charged for merely inquiring about potential legal representation or for basic questions regarding legal options and costs.
However, German law mandates that attorneys charge fees for substantive legal advice. Clients must be able to rely on the quality of legal counsel, which is why informal, free legal consultations are not provided by our firm. Nonetheless, we ensure complete transparency regarding costs before any charges are incurred.
The total cost of legal representation depends on the scope and complexity of the case. In criminal law, hourly rates and fixed fees for different procedural stages, motions, and hearings are standard practice, as the standard fees set by the RVG do not adequately cover complex cases such as financial crimes or serious offenses.
Transparency is key—reputable lawyers will always provide upfront cost estimates and will never pressure potential clients into hiring them without first discussing the case details.
Clients should never hesitate to ask their attorney about fees. A trustworthy lawyer will always provide clear and honest information regarding costs rather than making vague promises or withholding pricing details.
We are committed to providing comprehensive legal consultations in criminal law, equipping you with the information needed to determine whether further legal representation is necessary and assessing the potential outcomes of your case.
Bring all relevant documents to your initial consultation, such as indictments, penalty orders, summonses for questioning, search warrants, and arrest warrants (for relatives). Provide a clear outline of the case from your perspective. Our lawyers and staff are bound by strict confidentiality, even during the initial consultation.
