"To ensure your rights" is written on the cover of the book that Fatih brought to the first lecture of his law studies.

He didn't have to buy the Basic Law, a friend gave it to him and provided it with that note.

That was exactly a year ago when Fatih first considered going back to his old job – becoming a lawyer – after being arrested and fleeing Turkey.

“In the beginning I had absolutely no intention of going back to college.

I figured I could open a restaurant;

maybe I can work as a truck driver.” He was aware early on that his professional qualifications would not be recognized in his new home country.

But after his wife had managed to work as a doctor again, she persuaded her husband to

try again with the law.

So it is that Fatih, who doesn't want to read his full name in the newspaper, is enrolled again as a freshman at the law faculty shortly after his 35th birthday.

In Germany, the profession of lawyer, like that of teacher or doctor, is subject to legal regulations.

This is primarily for consumer protection.

In other professional fields, however, such as in advertising or journalism, the decision as to whether a person is sufficiently qualified rests solely with the employer.

Anyone who has been trained as a lawyer in a foreign legal system will find it difficult in this country to have their qualifications recognized – especially if they were acquired in a non-EU country.

This is firmly anchored in the German Judges Act, the fifth paragraph of which prescribes at least two years of study in the area of ​​application of the law for fully qualified lawyers.

Long study period, high language requirements

However, applying again for a place at university is not very attractive for most former lawyers, both because of the long study period and the high language requirements.

Instead, some of them choose the detour via a so-called LL.M. degree, a one-year legal training course that is specially designed at many universities for entry into German law.

For Fatih, who is still comparatively young and also has a talent for languages, the low demand proved to be an advantage.

He was able to secure one of the study places reserved for international students;

these generally account for a total of five percent.

“As far as I know, I am the only one in my circle of acquaintances who was a judge in Turkey and now wants to study law again in Germany.

I'm sure that if I can be a good role model, many will try their luck.

I think some colleagues are expecting good news from me.”

While voluntary mobility in the field of law is quite low, judges and lawyers keep fleeing to Germany from other countries and crisis regions.

In order to counteract the loss of skills by foreign skilled workers, the federal government has been promoting so-called IQ networks (integration through qualification) since 2005, which also include relevant advice centers.

In 2019 alone, around 1,300 lawyers, most of whom were trained in third countries, gave advice on their options for reintegration into the labor market.

Since 2019, the Frankfurt association "beramí Berufs Integration" has been offering international lawyers a six-month program for professional preparation and reactivation.

The curriculum of the initiative, which has been financed by the job centers since 2022, includes German legal foundations as well as industry-oriented training courses, for example on the subject of data protection or compliance.

"There are so many other areas in which legal professionals are desperately needed," says project coordinator Christoph Joschko.

For example in official processing, in human resources management, but also in international companies when it comes to concluding contracts with foreign partners.

The expanded legal labor market offers opportunities

Many of Fatih's former colleagues have also found a job in the extended legal job market.

But for him, the former family and criminal judge, this is initially not a perspective: "I would like to acquire the powers of a fully qualified lawyer in order to be able to better help people who have experienced injustice or have been persecuted."

The decision was easy for Fatih - despite the injustice he had to experience.

Even during his two-year imprisonment, he never tired of filing complaints about a lack of factual basis and denied access to files.

Only a few months after his release did an incident occur that made him finally understand the extent of his loss of confidence.

During dinner, the doorbell rings unexpectedly.

"I saw the fear in my wife's eyes, in the eyes of my children." It was just a harmless prank by the neighbor's children.

But after this scene he decided to leave the country.

"We don't want to experience that feeling again."

Fatih recently complained to the European Court of Human Rights that his rights and protections as a civil servant had been violated.

Like many of the officials prosecuted at the time, he received compensation from the Turkish state.

An important recognition, even if he has long been looking ahead to the future.

Fatih has been involved in a local branch of Amnesty International for some time;

also to network with people who have had similar experiences.

However, there is still a long way to go before he can stand by them as a lawyer.