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Around 50 lawyers from various law firms in central and southern Germany have joined forces in a voluntary initiative. Through a free telephone helpline, partner lawyers from various cities are now providing nationwide ‘first legal aid’ to self-employed people, employees and freelancers affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Originally, the initial telephone consultation was to be offered via the nationwide KRISENNETZWERK RECHTSRAT on (069) 2043 694 694 from 30 March to 22 April 2020. The initiative will now continue at least until the summer break at the end of July 2020. The areas of assistance range from contract law, general terms and conditions, and employment law, through company law, banking law and commercial disputes, to data protection and IT legal issues relating to working from home. Insolvency law specialists are on board, as are insurance law experts, as well as, for example, specialists in transport law or export control issues. In addition, specialists in commercial and tax criminal law are answering questions – including anonymously. The network also includes a tax adviser, a banking management expert, mediators, and a coaching and communications specialist to help with ‘tension in the air’. Anyone requiring other specialists will be referred accordingly.
“We’re doing this despite our desks being, in some cases, chaotically full, because we, too, are deeply affected by the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic,” says the initiative’s founder, Dr Anette Schunder-Hartung. “Many of us studied law in the first place so that we could provide effective help. Now we want to do our bit.”
Dr Schunder-Hartung goes on to remark: “As has become apparent, whilst the challenges have changed in recent weeks, they are far from over. Whilst at the start we mainly received enquiries about emergency aid and short-time working, later on these included, for example, restaurant closures. Insurance law aspects also play a role here.” Following several enquiries regarding the handling of lockdown restrictions and travel law issues, our focus has recently returned to employment law and health and safety at work.”
When a large social welfare organisation, with almost 300,000 members, approached the network with a request to be able to refer enquiries outside the scope of social welfare law to the crisis helpline, it was decided to continue the service as the ‘Wednesday helpline’. Until the end of July, the network can be reached every Wednesday – and, if demand is high, on Thursdays as well – between 5 pm and 6 pm on (069) 2043 694 694.
You can download the full press release from the aHa Strategic Business Development website.
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