The Dark Side of Law: Commercialization in the German Legal System

Lawyers are, generally speaking, stereotyped for polished appearances and a sharp tongue – traits I might share. But beyond the clichés, there’s something else at least I think of when thinking of lawyers: a person working in the business of truth and righteousness. Someone who defends your rights in times of (legal) conflict.

Lawyers in Germany

In Germany, lawyers are formally recognized as ‚Organ der Rechtspflege‚—literally, an ‚organ of the administration of justice.‘ This term underscores their integral role in the legal system, much like an organ in a living body.

The legal system, however, is suffering from a chronic illness: commercialization. This disease commodifies everything—even rights and lives. Claims are less likely to be heard if not backed by financial means. While initiatives like iHELP Kassel e.V. offer pro bono support, most people without resources or legal knowledge are left powerless.

For example, you have been legally mistreated by any relevant authority. Do you think anyone cares about the violation if you can’t pay the price of a (good) lawyer? Sometimes there are local initiatives or volunteering organizations who made it their task to help with legal barriers, e.g. iHELP Kassel e.V. – but mostly – and especially – if you’re not familiar with the legal system, you’re just one of its subjects.

The quest for justice slowly faded and what’s often left of it from the lawyers side is a business with smug-like attitude living off the hardships of others. There is no grace for the clients or admiration for peoples rights . Often, only greed or convenience govern the course of your legal quest.

And that’s not because of the lawyers themselves – few of those who I’ve met so far were personally something you would refer to as „bad people“. But because the legal system itself in combination with the underlying economical and social systems promote it.

The Legal System

The legal system and the idea of justice have changed a lot over time, influenced by culture, society, and politics. Ancient legal systems, like those in Mesopotamia and Egypt, focused on retributive justice, where punishment matched the crime. The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest legal codes, illustrated this with its „eye for an eye“ rule.

Ancient codes like Hammurabi’s aimed to ‚prevent the strong from oppressing the weak.‘ Yet today, the legal system often feels like it does the opposite—protecting the status quo and serving those who can afford it. Justice is sold as a product, it’s not a right anymore.

Ask yourself – how do you perceive modern law/legal systems? Has justice become commodified?

In my view, the legal system has by now far strayed from its original purpose of protecting the weak, and instead serves to maintain the existing social order, misleading people by selling them safety and a feeling of justice being taken serious – only so they find out it’s just as much of a business as anything else nowadays.

The system treats symptoms—resolving disputes, enforcing contracts— but ignores the root causes of inequality. It’s like prescribing painkillers for a broken bone: temporary relief, but no real healing.

And while it’s important to have these pills, it’s only a mediocre way of how to promote equality and dignity – the real work here starts way before the symptoms become visible.

It starts with an assessment and awareness for the situation, wanting to change it. Not by selling cheap pills but putting in real effort to give an opportunity for change. But for this there seems to be no room when taking into account the processes of legal consultation.

Far away the spirit of die Aufklärung from 1650 to 1800 when the proclamation of human rights promoted a better future – and far away from the agreements made after World War II.

What if we unconsciously made up a system which can’t really serve its original purpose anymore?

Conclusion

After years of witnessing systemic injustice, I could no longer participate in a profession that perpetuates it.

The money I earned felt like blood money—a bribe to stay silent. On my 36th birthday, I chose to walk away. Now, I’m writing a book, The Masquerade of Law, to expose what I’ve seen.

It made me sick. I would’t continue even if I was offered a fortune for it.

We need solutions, not another chimp in a suit barking insults and profiting from deception.