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COUNTRY SPOTLIGHTGERMANY Many of us recall the falling of the Berlin Wall almost a decade ago that culminated in the formal unification of East and West Germany on October 3, 1990. Located in Central Europe, bordering the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, Germany shares boundaries with nine other countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. As you will learn in this spotlight, Germany offers more than beer, brats and Oktoberfest. Indeed, it is a country rich in history and culture and is fascinating to visit.
Here are some basic facts about Germany…
Names: Capital: Berlin Population: 81,337,541 (July 1995 est) Area: 356,910 square kilometers (slightly smaller than the state of Montana) Official Language: German (Deutsch) Political Structure: 16 states (Bundeslander, singular: Bundesland) Chief of state: President Roman Herzog Chief of government: Chancellor Dr. Helmut Kohl Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 37%, unaffiliated or other 18% (Muslim and Jewish) Monetary Unit: Deutschmark (DM) (DM 1.7 = US $ 1 approximately) Literacy Rate: 99% National Holiday: German Unity Day, October 3 For more basic information about Germany, check out these sites: http://www.entry.de/english/fentry.html http://userpage.chernie.fu-berlin.de/adressent/brd-fact.html.
http://gwdu19.gwdg.de/~nlumma/Historyweb/germaninfo.html
www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/country-frame.html
www.germany-info.org/
http://www.germanay-info.org/facts/anthem.htm All professional judges, public prosecutors and attorneys at law must have the qualifications of a judge, which requires the successful completion of the course at a university law school, compulsory practical training and a two-part state bar examination. The German bar examination is administered by the Ministry of Justice in each of the 16 states which make up the German Federal System. The German Richtergesetz provides an abbreviated outline of this examination system, while each state provides its own detailed legislation for its administration of the exam Each state's examination system is roughly similar, and unlike in the United States, all states recognize each other's examinations as equivalent. The first part of the German Bar Examination, known as the Erstes Staatsexamen (Fist State Examination) is taken upon completion of the course work at the University and consists of seven five hour written tests, four in civil law, two in administrative law and one in criminal law. Upon passing this part of the exam, one becomes a Referendar and undergoes the practical training. After completing this two-year period of practical course work that includes clerkship rotations among state and private lawyers, one must take the Assesorexamen (the Second State Exam). More substantial than the first exam, the Assesorexamen is comprised of 11 five hour written tests with the emphasis on the practical rather than the theoretical. One is only licensed to practice law after passing this second state examination. Approximately, 85% of the students taking this examination pass. To find out more about German law programs investigate these cites:
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nlawww/artilce4/leith4.html
http://www.jura.uni-mainz.de/DARM/dt-llm.html
http://www.jura.uni.de/english/Publicatons/llm.html
http://www.jura.uni-sb.de/english/glsindex.html
http://www.daad.org/
http://www.Daad.org/siduni.htm Widely known for its great selection of beers, the national beverage, Germany also has a rich artistic heritage that includes cathedrals, some of the most influential philosophers, renowned classical composers and industrial-grunge music, the genius of Goethe as poet, dramatist, painter, scientist and philosopher and musical luminaries including the Bach family, Ludwig van Beethoven and Richard Wagner. If you are not a beer drinker, try the Gluhwein, a hot, spicy mulled wine that takes the chill out in winter. Here are some sites to browse to whet your appetite and assist with your travel plans:
http://www.germany-info.org/gnew/recipe/recipe.htm
http://www.germany-info.org/gnew/recipe/oldrecip/htm
http://www.germany-info.org/culture/wine2.htm
http://www.germany-info.org/facts/anthem.htm Need to brush up on your German language skills? Here are some cites to help:
http://www.goethe.de/eindex.htm
http://www.germany-info.org/culture/cultev.htm Eastern and western Germany have become progressively more economically integrated since unification in 1990, although it is estimated that the eastern region will remain dependent on subsidies funded by Western Germany until well into the next century. Overall, economic recovery in the east is led by the construction industries, accounting for one-third of industrial out put. Growth has been increasingly supported by the service sectors and light manufacturing industries. Eastern Germany's economy is changing from one anchored on manufacturing to a more service oriented economy. Western Germany, with three times the per capita output of the eastern states, has an advanced market economy and is a world leader in exports. Western Germany's world-class companies manufacture technologically advanced goods. The region's economy is mature with services and manufacturing, accounting for the dominant share of economic activities and raw materials and semi-manufactured goods constituting a large portion of imports.
http://scn.bham.ac.uk/minnerng/econmic.htm
http://www.pix.za/taxfax/upub-ge.html
http.//userpage.chenie.fu-berlin.de/adressen/brd-fact.html So how does one conduct business in Germany? Here are some sites that will help you make a favorable impression on your counterparts overseas and assist you with negotiating tactics, business culture and manners and business entertainment when in Deutschland…
http://www.world biz.com/bizgermany.html
http://www.germanyinfor. org/business/doingbus.htm
http://www.germany.info.org/business/labor.htm
http://www.brak.de/index.html Generally, foreigners, from non European Union countries, who would like to work or take up an occupation in Germany must have either 1) a resident permit to work as a self employed person, or 2) a residence permit and a work permit to take up employment as a wage or salary earner. Nationals and legal entities from European Union States are not required to have work permits and enjoy unrestricted freedom of movement in the Federal Republic of Germany. Residence permits must be obtained prior to entering the country in the form of a visa from the appropriate representative of the Federal Republic of Germany. For more details and to learn about obtaining the necessary documents check out the sites listed below.
http://www.germany-info.org/business/residenc.htm
http://www.sib-info.de/index/links/jobs.htm
http://www.welt.de The law of the Federal Republic of Germany is comprised of more than 4,000 acts and statutory instruments most of which are federal. The states have jurisdiction to pass laws on such matters as the police, local government, schools and universities as well as the media. During the four decades of division, the legal systems of the two Germanys became totally different. These two independent legal systems were merged, when Germany reunified. Partly rooted in Roman law and partly rooted in numerous other legal sources in the German regions, German law is based on statutory law rather than on common law. Germany, then known as the German Empire, established its first system of federal law in the 19th century. This history is marked by the Civil Code and Commercial Code, which have preserved the liberal spirit of those times and maintain the underlying principle of the freedom of contract. The German Civil Code has served as a model to Japan and Greece. Criminal Law starts from the Constitutional premise that no act is punishable unless declared so by law before it was committed. Investigate the sites listed below for law links and more details:
http://www.online-club.de/m0/cybercop/diverses/legal.htm
http://www.germany-info.org/facts/history.htm
http://www.bundesregierung.de/english/01/newsf.html
http://gwdu19.gwdg.de/~nlumma/Historyweb/germinfo.html TRAVEL With flatlands in the north, industrialization in middle, the Black Forest and Bavarian Alps in the south, and the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, Germany has lots to offer. The most reliable weather is from May to October. The wonderful German train network makes it quick and easy to get around. Check out these sites to start on your way:
http://www.germany-tourism.de/home_e.html
http://www.germany-tourism.de/cities/muenchen/muenchen_e.htm
http://www.munich-tourist.de
http://www.lonelyplanet.com.au/dest/eur/ger.htm
http://www.bayern.de/Tourismus/welcomeE.html If you want to check the weather before leaving or to plan a trip:
http://www.theweathernetwork.com
http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/cities/eurppe.html Germany also has a bar association that pays attention to the young lawyers. In addition, associations exist for the benefit of law students. Here are a few websites to investigate:
http://www.antwaltverein.de/
http://www.antwaltverein.de/05/rageber.html
http://www.uni-bayreuth.delstudents/elsa-home-english.html
http://www.daad.org
http://www.jura.uni-mainz.de/DARM/dt-llm.html
http://www.jura.uni.de/english/Publications/llm.html
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/~nlawww/artilce4/leith4.html
http://www.jura.uni-sb.de/english/glsindex.html
http://www.Daad.org/sduni.htm
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