Between Law, Politics, and Social Sciences

What Do Human Rights Lawyers Do?

Guest Article by Michelle SieburgLesedauer: 7 Minuten

Human rights affect us all - and the field offers surprisingly diverse career prospects, both at home and abroad. Michelle Sieburg knows what it's like to work as a human rights lawyer or as a lawyer at the ECHR.

Hier geht es zur deutschen Version des Artikels. 

Human rights tend to play a minor role in the German legal education. Only those who specialize in public international law deal with the rights of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in depth. In view of the current global crises, however, the need for committed human rights activists is growing - and with that the career opportunities for lawyers. 

Lawyers can work for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International or the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF). The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) and the German Institute for Human Rights (DIMR) also offer exciting job opportunities. But you can also protect human rights in the traditional legal professions. 

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Defending Human Rights in Court 

This is exactly what Stefan von Raumer, a German lawyer who specialized in international law and public international law during his studies, does. His professional roots lie in property and restitution law, where he has in particular enforced claims for restitution and compensation from so-called former owners whose former property was located on GDR soil. In 1997, he lodged his first individual complaint with the ECtHR. Since then, in addition to constitutional law, he has also been active in the area of the ECHR. Von Raumer is convinced: "This is the most exciting profession in the world". 

Constitutional complaints to the German Federal Constitutional Court (BVerfG) and individual complaints to the ECtHR make up most of his work today. In addition to the "classic" human rights such as the right to life or the right to express one's opinion, this also includes enforcement and property law. "Unfortunately, a lot of lawyers are not aware that there is still a possibility of legal protection before the ECtHR in this regard after exhausting the appeals process and after an unsuccessful constitutional complaint," regrets von Raumer. 

He usually lodges complaints against German authorities and court decisions, but also against decisions by other member states of the Council of Europe. For example, the lawyer has filed several individual complaints against Lithuania. These concern the deportation of numerous Russian and Belarussian nationals who, according to von Raumer, are at risk in their home countries and pose no threat to Lithuania's national security. 

Does the Appeal Have a Chance of Success? 

For students this is the introduction to a constitutional law exam. But it also describes the first step in von Raumer's work. He often receives inquiries from law firms that have been unsuccessful at first instance and now want to know whether it makes sense for their clients to lodge a constitutional or individual complaint. 

Von Raumer therefore has to familiarize himself with the "sometimes unfamiliar" appeal process, "understand the facts of the case and the supporting arguments and then examine whether there has been a violation of specific constitutional law or convention law," he explains. There are special features to consider. For example, both constitutional and human rights complaints may only be based on arguments that have already been put forward in the court of first instance. Therefore, deep knowledge of the case law of the relevant courts is essential. 

What costs can be expected? Von Raumer replies to LTO: "I always adapt the fee to the individual case, in particular the amount of work required, but I also take into account the financial situation of my clients. In general, you should expect to pay at least 10,000 euros for a constitutional or human rights complaint, but fees of 30,000 euros or more can also be incurred."

"Human rights work goes far beyond the work of a lawyer," emphasizes von Raumer. In addition to being a lawyer, he is Vice President of the German Bar Association (DAV) and Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the DAV as well as the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). He supports lawyers in Ukraine, Iran and Afghanistan, among others. 

Working at the ECtHR in Strasbourg 

In addition to the ECtHR, its umbrella organization, the Council of Europe, is also based in Strasbourg. Human rights lawyers from all over Europe work there. You can find out more about working at other EU institutions here

The 46 judges at the ECtHR are elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which is made up of representatives of all contracting states, on the recommendation of their respective home states. In Germany, the proposals are drawn up by the Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ); this procedure is not regulated by law. Professor Anja Seibert-Fohr has been a judge at the ECtHR for Germany since 2019. 

The so-called "Registry Lawyers" support the judges at the ECtHR in the decision-making process. They only process complaints from their own home state. Registry Lawyers handle communication with the applicants and prepare initial draft decisions - except for particularly complex cases in the Grand Chamber. There, Registry Lawyers prepare expert opinions on individual legal issues.

Working as "Assistant Lawyer" with a First State Examination 

Under the "Assistant Lawyers Scheme", young lawyers have the opportunity to learn from the Registry Lawyers for a maximum of four years. They mainly work on standard cases or obviously inadmissible complaints, usually under the guidance of the Registry Lawyers. 

A university degree is required for both Registry Lawyers and Assistant Lawyers, meaning that the first state examination is sufficient. Only nationals of a member state of the Council of Europe may apply. In addition, applicants must demonstrate very good knowledge of one of the official working languages, English, or French. Further recruitment criteria depend on the respective vacancies. 

The application process also includes an assessment center. Candidates have to pass language and knowledge tests as well as simulations of various work situations. Once this has been successfully completed, applicants are placed on the preselection list and invited to an interview if required. The wait is worth it; in the past, the starting salary for Registry and Assistant Lawyers was about 4,500 euros. Due to a special agreement of the Council of Europe, no taxes are payable. 

Lawyers as Critical Observers

Human rights activists can also be found at the DIMR. The DIMR is the independent national human rights institution that works to protect and promote human rights in Germany. In its annual human rights report the institute, among other things, draws attention to grievances and makes concrete recommendations for action to politicians. 

"We act as critical observers," explains Sophie Funke, research associate at the institute. She is part of the DIMR's Monitoring Unit for the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child - one of the Institute's various thematic departments. As part of a small team, she is committed to upholding international standards in children's rights. 

Therefore, the DIMR monitors the current human rights situation and provides policy advice to federal, state, and local authorities as well as international organizations such as the United Nations (UN). The Institute is generally in contact with politicians, be it in hearings in the German parliament, the Bundestag, or by submitting statements on draft legislation. 

"But the Institute is also a bridge between the state and civil society," emphasizes Funke. "We take on an explanatory and translation function." The DIMR is committed to ensuring that all people in Germany have access to their rights. In addition to the substantive challenge of making complex legal topics accessible to the general public, lawyers at the Institute have to specifically address different target groups. 

Law, Politics, and Social Sciences 

For example, the DIMR developed a website to inform refugee parents that they have a right to the birth certificate of their child born in Germany. Among other things, this is important for access to education and social benefits.

"I particularly enjoy the varied work. Depending on the current project, the work is different every day and, alongside law, social and political sciences also play a role," reports Funke. She also likes the working environment: "I am surrounded by very committed colleagues from different disciplines. This ensures that issues are analysed from different perspectives. We learn a lot from each other."

Anyone who can imagine a future career in the field of human rights should gain initial experience in this area of work at an early stage – for example as part of an internship. Not only does exciting work await you there, but above all an area of law that affects us all. 

Michelle Sieburg studies law at Heidelberg University.

This text is a translated and slightly revised version of the article published in German on December 21, 2024. 

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