Legal assistance

If you experience a conflict with your employer, you can file a complaint with the appropriate local Arbeitsgericht (labour court).

The Arbeitsgericht is the judicial venue for disputes that fall within the scope of the Arbeitsgerichtsgesetz (Labour Court Act). These include above all conflicts that arise between employees and their employers. In the first instance, the plaintiff and the defendant always bear their own costs. This means that the parties are not reimbursed for the costs they incur in the first instance. Court costs and attorneys’ fees may be paid in part or in full by the state if legal aid is granted. You are free to consult an attorney for the purpose of discussing the problem before filing a complaint. However, you will have to pay the costs of such consultation yourself, and they are not reimbursable.

Persons who need legal advice or legal assistance from an attorney but have only a limited income can apply to the appropriate Amtsgericht at their place of residence in Saxony for an advisory aid form (Beratungshilfeschein). Using this form, the attorney will bill the state directly for legal advice and other services. The fee for the Beratungshilfeschein is 15 euros.

Here’s a tip! As a member of a German trade union you are entitled to legal insurance. Membership in a union is voluntary, and legal insurance is free after three months of membership.

Further information on this topic is provided at: