“Refugee Law Clinics” combat the lack of independent asylum advice

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In oneInterview by Niko Kappel from July 3, 2018 on “jetzt” says Maximilian Oehl from“Refugee Law Clinics” , why independent legal advice is so important for a constitutional state: “…Many people ask general questions about the asylum procedure. How long it takes. Whether you can work. Whether you can move into your own apartment and so on. If an asylum application has been rejected, you have to decide whether to take legal action. And that's exactly where people need our support. (…)There has recently been a tendency among authorities to want to process cases more and more quickly. Of course, this would work quickest if the person affected does not know about their rights and therefore cannot defend themselves in court. But for me that is contrary to the idea of ​​the rule of law. (…) It is important that there is independent asylum procedure advice for refugees. The welfare associations have been demanding this for a long time..” And more about this and about it:

• Dobrindt stops independent asylum advice: The federal government wants to make cuts where the rule of law begins
  • On the need for asylum procedure advice that is independent of the authorities
    “According to Section 12a AsylG, the federal government promotes independent, open-ended, free, individual and voluntary advice on asylum procedures. In Saxony, the Saxon Refugee Council e.V., among others, provides this advisory service. Countless consultations take place here, supported by legal supervision.
    The financing of independent advisory structures in asylum procedures is at risk beyond 2026, as the government's draft federal budget envisages a drastic cut in funding of up to 80% (https://www.diakonie.de/informieren/infothek/2026/juli/diakonie-deutschland-unabhaengige-asylverfahrensberatung-aktiv ) All that would remain is the so-called free official legal information from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). However, this does not provide for individual advice or direct procedural questions. The BAMF is also the responsible authority that decides on the protection status of an asylum seeker, so it should simultaneously provide information about procedural rights, prospects of success and legal remedies and decide on the matter. (…)
    Advice on asylum procedures independent of authorities is an essential part of unhindered access to justice.
    Asylum seekers who do not (yet) have legal representation can receive essential information about the procedure and be prepared individually. Effective legal protection requires that those affected know and can exercise their rights. An asylum procedure is complex, tied to tight deadlines and its material and procedural requirements can hardly be penetrated independently by the CEAS. The independent advice counteracts the power imbalance between the authority and the individual seeking protection.(…)
    If the federal government does not provide sufficient funding, there is a risk that independent advice on asylum procedures will be restricted or even completely lost. According to the Saxon Refugee Council e.V., there is neither sufficient state funding nor municipal financing models that could secure the work of the independent advice centers (https://www.saechsischer-fluechtlingsrat.de/2026/07/21/pressemitigung-nein-zum-foerderaus-der-asylverfahrensberatung/ ).
    A virtual abolition of independent advisory structures due to a lack of funding runs counter to the constitutional requirements of a fair asylum procedure…”Press release from the RAV regional group East from October 6th, 2026 
  • Even the Bamf praises the asylum advice – but Dobrindt is against it.
    “A study by the Federal Office for Migration confirms the benefits of independent advice for those seeking protection.
    The research center of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (Bamf) has evaluated the agency-independent asylum procedure advice (AVB). The report, presented six months late, confirms the importance of the independent bodies: for example, 70,970 people visited one of the 189 advice centers spread across Germany in 2024. The advice rate rose from 26.7 percent in the second half of 2023 to 40.6 percent in 2024 as a whole. The agency-independent asylum procedure advice is carried out by the large German welfare associations and other civil society organizations. The employees provide information about hearings in the asylum procedure, notifications and possible lawsuits against them. In more than half of the cases, topics that are not part of the core mission are also covered, including language courses or job searches. However, what the AVB actually has for those affected remains unclear even after the evaluation because the Bamf is not allowed to link counseling and asylum procedure data. The scientific research center cannot therefore prove whether the advice leads to more efficient procedures or better quality decisions. The two authors recommend that at least an anonymized linking of the data should be possible in the future. (…) The publication of the evaluation comes at a phase in which the federal government wants to drastically reduce the funding for the AVB program. (…) From the perspective of the providers, the Bamf report published on Wednesday confirms their criticism.The general manager of the General Parity Association, Joachim Rock, is therefore calling for the cuts planned in the government draft to be reversed: "The AVB is working and must now finally be expanded in line with needs." A group of advice centers in Saxony also warned on Wednesday of the end of the AVB program. »A constitutional state needs independent advice. Anyone who abolishes them weakens access to justice - and thus the rights of the weakest," says one call. (...) The planned system change and the associated cuts in individual case consultations were announced by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU)." Article by Matthias Monroy from July 22, 2026 in New Germany online 
  • Refugee councils warn: Removing asylum advice will lead to more lawsuits
    “The federal government wants to abolish independent advice on asylum procedures. Pro-asylum and refugee councils warn of the consequences of dismantling civil society infrastructure: more lawsuits - and even more pressure on already overloaded courts…”Article from March 23, 2026 in Migazin 
  • PRO ASYL and state refugee councils criticize the systematic destruction of support structures for refugees
    Press release from March 20, 2026 
  • Dobrindt stops independent asylum advice: Anyone seeking protection will therefore have to go through the process without independent advice in the future. This is met with criticism
    "According to media reports, the federal government no longer wants to pay money from 2027 to enable asylum seekers in Germany to receive advice independently of the authorities. The providers of this advice, including large welfare associations, have been informed accordingly, the research network "Correctiv" and the "Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland" report unanimously. The AWO federal association and Pro Asyl expressed sharp criticism of the cuts plans. The Ministry of the Interior, led by Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), did not confirm the planned funding end to the “Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland”. “Decisions about the allocation of funds take place as part of the budget negotiations,” said a spokesman, according to the report. The budget discussions for 2027 are still imminent. (…) Leon Eckert (Greens), member of the Bundestag's budget committee, confirmed the information: The Interior Ministry is citing austerity constraints in its decision. With this step, Dobrindt is “continuing his migration policy and humanitarian blind flight,” criticized Eckert. According to “Correctiv”, 25 million euros are still planned to support the relevant providers in the current year. The black-red coalition agreement states: “We will evaluate the independent asylum procedure advice with an open mind.” It was introduced by the traffic light coalition on January 1, 2023. According to media reports, the review prepared by the research center of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees is available, but is not published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.(…) The president of the AWO federal association, Michael Groß, told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that eliminating independent asylum procedure advice was a serious political mistake. (…) Pro-Asyl managing director Karl Kopp told the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” that independent advice on the asylum procedure is not a luxury, but rather a central safeguard under the rule of law in the asylum procedure. In a highly complex process that is of vital importance to those affected, those seeking protection need reliable support. This must be granted independently of the authority that decides on your application.” Report from Karsten Frerichs from March 15, 2026 on MiGAZIN  
  • “Casual mistake.” Refugee Council: Losing asylum advice would have dramatic consequences
    "The federal government wants to make cuts where the rule of law begins: in independent advice for asylum seekers. This not only threatens dozens of jobs, but is likely to lengthen procedures, increase uncertainty and reduce processes to absurdity.
    Diakonie has thatThreatening withdrawal from independent asylum procedure advice criticized. “By abolishing advice on asylum procedures, the federal government would be making a serious mistake and contradicting its self-imposed goal of bringing more order to migration,” said the President of the Protestant umbrella organization, Rüdiger Schuch, to the “Evangelical Press Service” on Monday. As Diakonie confirmed, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has informed the associations that it no longer wants to finance the offer from next year. There can only be fast and legally secure asylum procedures if people receive independent advice, said Schuch. Asylum seekers could participate better in the process so that their prospects of staying can be clarified more quickly and integration or return can be prepared. "Without this advice, the procedures would take longer instead of shorter. That cannot be the aim of the federal government," said Schuch. (…) According to the Hessian Refugee Council, a cessation of federal funding for asylum advice from independent providers means the end for many advice centers. “Many providers have no alternative financing,” said managing director Timmo Scherenberg in Frankfurt am Main to the “Evangelical Press Service”. The Federal Ministry of the Interior's plan is illegal: In the Asylum Act, Paragraph 12a, the federal government undertakes to promote "administrative-independent, open-ended, free, individual and voluntary asylum procedure advice..." Contribution by Corinna Buschow and Jens Bayer-Gimm from March 17, 2026 in MiGAZIN 
  • Cancellation of asylum procedure advice: fatal wrong decision and denial of reality
    Press statement from Dr. Joachim Rock, General Manager of the General Joint Association on March 16, 2026 to the deletion announced by the BMI
  • Interior Ministry wants to cut counseling services for asylum seekers
    “Alexander Dobrindt's department no longer wants to provide funds for those responsible for “independent advice” in the 2027 budget. The SPD announces resistance…”Article by Pamela Kaethner and Ulrich Kraetzer from March 13, 2026 at correctiv.org
• Free legal advice: In law clinics, students advise on migration and social law 
  “Anyone who doubts the decision from the job center or wants to extend their right of residence in Germany often needs legal help. These are available free of charge at a law clinic. She has been successful at Frankfurt's Goethe University for ten years.  (…) The one supported by the Faculty of LawLaw Clinicoffers free advice to people who are in dispute with authorities and do not know enough German or cannot afford a lawyer. (…)
  Sometimes advice reaches its limits. In one case, a client lived for five years only with temporary residence certificates, so-called fictional certificates, reports Al-Hadjadj. The immigration authorities did not decide on the rejected asylum seeker's application for a residence permit because he wanted to take up employment. Because the Law Clinic did not receive a response from the authorities, the consultants ultimately referred the client to a lawyer.
  For people on the fringes of society
  Research assistant Hoda Bourenane discusses the cases with the students. The Goethe University Law Clinic wasfounded ten years ago, “to give people on the margins of society a legal voice,” she explains. There is great interest among law students in participating. Around 20 students are selected through interviews every year. Their advice is needed: Several clients usually come to the two-hour consultation hours on Fridays. “We can help in three quarters of all cases,” says the lawyer.
  During their studies, the student advisors are prepared for their task for a year, as the supervising law professor Andrea Kießling explains. You will receive a weekly course on migration law and social law for one semester, as well as weekly case exercises and a block seminar that trains counseling skills. The Law Clinic combines practical teaching, learning through commitment and career orientation. It has established itself as an important contact point for those seeking advice.
  Around 40 advice centers in Germany
  Since the founding of the first student law clinic in Giessen in the winter semester of 2007/2008 based on the Anglo-American model, around 40 advice centers have been created in Germany that are part of the Refugee Law Clinics network and provide advice on migration and asylum law. There are also law clinics that provide advice on social, equality, labor or environmental law, explains research assistant Leonie Hisam. Some are supported by universities, many are organized as associations. The CMS Foundation provides the software for the virtual offices free of charge…”Contribution by Jens Bayer-Gimm from October 30, 2025 in Migazin 

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