Before hiring a lawyer, it is advisable to find a lawyer specialized in the relevant area of criminal law and first obtain an initial consultation. Through the initial consultation, the client can personally get to know the lawyer, ask critical questions, and form their own opinion about the lawyer’s competence and experience.
Because the criminal process provides such a wide range of possible scenarios and, above all, considerable discretion, the competence and experience of the lawyer are essential—similar to a doctor. Success in criminal law depends on the choice of lawyer, as no other area of law has as many different consequences and procedural outcomes as criminal law.
What does an initial consultation in criminal law include?
The initial consultation in criminal law serves several important purposes:
On the one hand, the client can be informed about the further course of the criminal proceedings and possible consequences, thereby alleviating uncertainties or fears. Additionally, necessary next steps and potential legal options can be discussed (possible motions, common handling of similar cases in the respective jurisdiction, etc.).
On the other hand, the initial consultation provides an opportunity to assess a lawyer without immediately committing to full representation. Trust, competence, and personal impression are essential criteria—again, similar to a doctor. In no other area of law is the choice of lawyer as crucial to the outcome as in criminal law. After all, no other legal field has such a wide range of consequences and procedural outcomes: case dismissal with or without financial conditions, penalty order, referral to private prosecution, non-initiation of proceedings, acquittal, waiver of punishment, mere warning with reservation of punishment, imprisonment from a few months to many years—with or without probation. Because criminal proceedings allow for such a wide range of scenarios and discretion, the competence and experience of the lawyer are crucial. Success in criminal law depends on them.
Through the initial consultation, the client can personally meet the lawyer, ask critical questions, and assess their expertise, experience, and even interpersonal compatibility.
Important: The initial consultation is based on the facts described by the client. A definitive case-specific defense strategy can only be developed after a full review of the case file! Only in the procedural file are all police investigations and all information considered relevant by the prosecution documented, which can be used to initiate further successful legal actions.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
In general, legal advice is not free. This is even required by law. Each case is unique and requires an individual assessment of the facts and legal situation, which necessitates careful review and time. Quality legal representation has a cost—anything else would be unethical and unprofessional.
The maximum statutory fee for an initial consultation is 190.00 EUR plus VAT (i.e., at most 226.10 €). The duration or complexity of the consultation does not affect this fee. This ensures that no hidden costs arise for potential clients.
In very complex individual cases, a meaningful initial consultation may require the lawyer to review fundamental aspects of the case in advance—such as examining extensive documents. In such cases, a separate fee agreement may need to be made for the consultation, but this must always be arranged in advance, in writing, and with full transparency.
Important: Simply inquiring at a law firm about potential representation or obtaining a brief overview of available legal options and costs does not incur any charges! However, any substantive legal assessment by a lawyer is subject to statutory legal fees. Potential clients must be able to rely on the value of sound legal advice. Thus, a “non-binding” brief legal query is not possible without compromising quality, which is why we do not offer such services. Our firm will always inform you transparently before any fees arise for an initial consultation.
The cost of full representation depends significantly on the complexity of the case. In criminal law, hourly fees and flat fees for certain procedural stages, complex legal documents, or court hearings are common, as the statutory legal fees primarily cover simple cases (e.g., possession of small amounts of drugs) rather than complex financial or sexual offenses. However, legal fees must always be agreed upon in writing, ensuring transparency for the client. In most cases, a fair and case-appropriate fee arrangement can only be determined after a thorough review of the case.
Is an initial consultation in criminal law worthwhile?
Given the numerous potential consequences and the inherently uncertain outcome of any criminal proceedings, the golden rule in criminal law is that one should ALWAYS HIRE A LAWYER—even if only for an initial consultation. An experienced criminal defense attorney will understand the risks and potential consequences better than the client.
A key advantage of an initial consultation is that it allows for a personal assessment of the lawyer’s competence and experience without committing to full representation or facing unexpected costs—although switching lawyers remains an option at any time after retaining one.
Requesting an initial consultation does not create false expectations; deciding whether to retain the consulting lawyer is entirely independent of the initial meeting. This creates a relaxed and open atmosphere where the client is under no obligation.
Final important notes:
An initial consultation is essential for understanding the next procedural steps, legal options in case of representation, and general judicial practices in similar cases. It also helps evaluate the lawyer’s experience and competence.
A consultation with a criminal defense lawyer provides insights into typical procedural outcomes, potential consequences, and defense strategies. However, concrete, case-specific defense strategies or reliable assessments of procedural outcomes require full access to case files, in-depth legal review, and often additional research.
Beware of immediate promises or pressure to retain a lawyer without a proper review of the case. Statements like “No matter the case, I can win it all” should be treated with caution.
Fee transparency is also crucial: while hourly fees and flat rates are common in criminal law, they must be explicitly agreed upon in writing and should be fully transparent. A reputable lawyer will inquire about the case details before providing a fee estimate.
Never hesitate to ask your lawyer about their fees. A serious lawyer will always inform you transparently rather than making vague or general promises. If the exact costs of the case are uncertain, they will communicate this openly.
Bring all relevant case documents to your initial consultation, including official correspondence such as indictments, penalty orders, summons for questioning, search warrants, arrest warrants (for relatives), and reports. Preparing a summary of the case from your perspective can also be helpful. Lawyers and their staff are legally required to maintain strict confidentiality—even during the initial consultation!
A well-informed lawyer can only provide an objective assessment if they are fully informed about the case (especially before obtaining the case file).
Our law firm is dedicated to utilizing all legal options in criminal proceedings and developing effective defense strategies that specifically target the weaknesses of the justice system.
No other area of law offers as much discretion, given the wide range of legal consequences in criminal proceedings: from case dismissal (with or without financial penalties) to penalty orders, non-initiation of proceedings, acquittal, warnings, waivers of punishment, or prison sentences ranging from months to years—with or without probation.
The outcome in criminal law heavily depends on the choice of the right lawyer.
Since—just like a doctor—trust in the best possible hands is the most important factor in hiring a lawyer, you can contact us at any time to gain a personal impression of our experience and expertise.
