Can I get reimbursed for the legal fees for reviewing my employment contract from my employer?
March 12, 2023 | 60,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Hausdorf
Dear lawyer,
My name is Marcus Netz and I work as an employee in a medium-sized company. Lately, I have noticed some inconsistencies in my employment contract and I am unsure if it is legally compliant. Therefore, I have decided to consult a lawyer to have my employment contract reviewed.
Now, the question arises whether I can get reimbursed for the legal fees for the review of my employment contract from my employer. I am worried that these costs could be a financial burden for me as an employee and I wonder if my employer, as the cause of the inconsistencies, should bear the costs.
I am not sure if my claim for reimbursement is legally enforceable and what steps I need to take to obtain a reimbursement of the legal fees. Are there any legal regulations or court rulings that could support my position?
I would greatly appreciate if you could assist me in this matter and provide possible solutions. Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Marcus Netz
Dear Mr. Netz,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the reimbursement of the costs for the review of your employment contract. As a lawyer specializing in fee law, I can provide you with the following information:
Generally, the costs for the review of an employment contract are usually borne by the employee themselves. This is based on the principle that each party must generally bear their own legal costs. However, there are exceptions to this principle, especially when the employer has caused discrepancies in the employment contract.
In your case, if you have identified discrepancies in your employment contract that are due to omissions or errors on the part of your employer, it may well be possible that your employer must bear the costs for the review of the employment contract. However, it should be noted that this must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and cannot be said categorically.
To obtain reimbursement of the legal costs, I recommend that you first have a discussion with your employer and clarify the situation. Explain to them the discrepancies in the employment contract and that you consider a review by a lawyer necessary as a result. Request that the employer cover the costs and try to reach an agreement.
If your employer refuses to cover the legal costs, you may consider taking legal action. In this case, it is advisable to consult a specialized lawyer in labor law who can further advise you.
I cannot provide you with specific information on legal regulations or court rulings that could strengthen your position, as this varies from case to case. It always depends on the specific circumstances of each individual case.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am happy to assist you with any further questions. Thank you for your trust and I wish you success in resolving your matter.
Sincerely,
Ralf Hausdorf, Lawyer
