Today, we are thrilled to speak with Alma Fritz, managing partner at Pilati + Fritz Rechtsanwälte and recent recipient of the Lawyer Monthly Legal Award for Family Law in Germany. Alma's unique journey from Bosnia and Herzegovina to becoming a leading family law specialist in Germany showcases her commitment to supporting clients through challenging times. In this interview, she shares her career path, the rewards of her work, and valuable advice for those looking to specialize in family law.
Alma, congratulations on winning the Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards for Family Law in Germany! Can you share your career journey and what inspired you to specialise in family law?
Thank you very much! It is a very great honour for me to receive this award.
I came to Germany with my family from Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992. I studied at the Goethe University in Frankfurt and in the course of my degree course I already opted to specialise in family law. During my degree, I worked as a research assistant at the university at the chair of Prof Dr Pfeiffer.
I have been with the firm for 16 years now, 10 of them as a lawyer, four years as a partner and currently as a managing partner. My professional home was, and still is, the law firm that I now manage and that will operate under the name Fritz Legal from next year on, after Kristina Gräfin Pilati left the firm at the end of September. A new chapter is beginning and I'm looking forward to it!
The combination of legal work and the opportunity to support people in difficult personal situations inspired me to focus on this field of law. Today, I am as enthusiastic about the diversity of topics and the large number of overlaps with other areas of law as I am about the international orientation of our law firm.
What do you find most rewarding about working in family law?
Working in family law means standing by people through some of the most challenging and personal moments and phases of their lives. The most rewarding aspect is not only providing my legal expertise but also helping clients regain a sense of direction in stressful situations they perceive to be hopeless, helping them to look positively towards the future and guiding them there.
How do you handle the emotionally charged nature of family law cases, and can you share a particularly challenging case you've worked on?
Emotions often play a key role in family law, especially in child custody cases or in cases involving existential concerns due to insufficient financial security. It is important to allow the necessary space for emotions without allowing them to override your legal judgement. In each individual case, the clients are faced by unique challenges. My job is to listen empathetically, take my clients' emotions seriously and at the same time show them the necessary, goal-oriented and effective legal steps to take. In doing so, I always endeavour to find a holistic solution that meets both the legal requirements while also taking account of the emotional and practical needs of my clients.
What role does mediation play in your practice, and how do you approach it in complex family disputes?
Mediation is a valuable way of shortening or avoiding lengthy court proceedings and reducing the emotional burden for all parties involved. It can take place both before and during the court proceedings. Mediation allows the parties involved to talk to each other in a protected environment and reach an amicable agreement together. A mediator helps the parties involved to take responsibility and deal constructively with the conflict and find a solution that is acceptable for both sides.
However, mediation does not constitute the right approach in every situation. There are situations in which mediation is not (yet) the right course of action. If I should arrive at the conclusion that mediation is not (yet) the appropriate approach, I communicate this transparently to my clients. In such cases, I support them in finding alternative ways that are better suited to their needs and the situation.
How do you ensure a balance between empathy for your clients and the need for legal objectivity?
Self-reflection is also important in order to strike a balance between empathy and legal objectivity. I listen very attentively to my clients to begin with, and take their emotional needs seriously. At the same time, I analyse the situation from an objective, legal perspective in order to develop the best strategy. This clear separation enables me to act in a way that is both supportive on a human level and also with the professional precision to best represent my clients' interests.
How do you stay updated with the constantly evolving family law landscape?
I keep up to date by continuously attending professional seminars and training courses and actively engaging in legal networks that not only encompass family law but also other areas of law. Due to the fact family law often intersects with other areas of law, such as tax law, company law or criminal law, this interdisciplinary exchange is particularly valuable, even beyond Germany's national borders. Furthermore, I follow current case law and specialised publications, especially in the field of family law.
What advice would you give to young lawyers who are aspiring to specialise in family law?
I would advise young lawyers who are aspiring to specialise in family law to prepare themselves well both professionally and emotionally for this demanding field. A good family law solicitor needs to have excellent legal knowledge, empathy, and the ability to remain clear in his own mind and objective in difficult situations.
It is important to enjoy working with people and to develop a good sense of their needs, while also being able to remain emotionally detached and to maintain your focus.
Continuous further training is also imperative, as is an openminded approach towards alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation.
