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Choose a procedural route that protects the deadline, fits the dispute and supports an informed decision on settlement or judgment.
What we help you decide
Resolve an employment dispute. We assess the relevant documents, explain the available routes and agree the scope of advice before taking further steps.
Individual and collective proceedings
Individual dismissal and payment disputes usually use judgment proceedings. Many works council disputes use resolution proceedings. The correct court and procedure depend on the claim and status of the parties. Directors’ disputes, civil-service matters and social-security issues may belong elsewhere.
From conciliation to judgment
A first-instance individual claim commonly begins with a conciliation hearing. If no settlement is reached, the court sets further procedural steps and may hold a chamber hearing. Prepare a chronology, identify disputed facts and connect each allegation to available evidence. Negotiations should run alongside active deadline management.
Appeals, costs and urgent measures
Appeals and reviews require the applicable admissibility conditions and deadlines; there is no automatic right to take every case through every level. In first-instance labour court judgment proceedings, each party generally bears its own lawyer’s fees even if successful. Interim relief requires an appropriate substantive claim and urgency.
European dimensions
EU-law issues may lead a national court to request a preliminary ruling from the Court of Justice. The CJEU is not a routine appeal court for German employment judgments. The European Court of Human Rights is a separate institution with its own admissibility requirements.
Practical example
A dismissal claim arrives while settlement talks are ongoing. We secure the procedural timetable, assess the documents and quantify the disputed components before advising on a proposed settlement or preparing the defence.
Documents for an initial review
- Claim, court orders and service dates
- Employment documents and correspondence
- Chronology, witnesses and relevant records
- Settlement proposals and insurance information
Related advice
Employment mediation, settlement and enforcement · Dismissal and termination in Germany · Employment claim deadlines in Germany · All employment law services · Discuss your matter
Legal sources
Reviewed: 8 November 2026. The application of these rules depends on the facts, the relevant documents and any applicable collective arrangements.