Non-German attorneys and organizations who have heretofore dealt with West German indemnification agencies on behalf of individual Nazi victims are being asked to show that, under the newly amended federal Indemnification Law, they are still eligible to represent their clients.
Due to the more restrictive provisions of the new law, it is explained in an official circular now being mailed out, indemnification agencies can in the future accept applications, briefs and correspondence solely from lawyers presently admitted to practice before the German bar, or from lawyers formerly admitted to the German bar and who emigrated because they were victims of Nazism.
The Indemnification Law specifically lists the United Restitution Organization, which maintains offices in all major countries of emigration and is sponsored by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims, as a group entitled to act for indemnification applicants. Other organizations, provided they are not profit-making, may be given authorization from the German governmental indemnification agencies to represent Nazi victims.
If power of attorney is granted to an individual outside the above categories, such power of attorney will be recognized by the competent indemnification agency only when the service is rendered non-professionally and not for profit.
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