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German Phrase

Hol dir zuerst rechtlichen Rat.

/hoːl diːɐ̯ ˈt͡sʏɐ̯st ˈʁeçt.lɪçən ʁaːt/
Meaning"Get legal advice first."
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Meaning

Literally, ‘Grab yourself legal advice first.’ In everyday German it means ‘Get legal advice before you do anything else.’ The phrase is a strong recommendation, often given when someone is about to take a step that could have legal consequences.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to warn a friend, colleague, or family member to consult a lawyer before signing a contract, filing a lawsuit, or making a decision that could have legal repercussions. It works best in informal settings; in formal contexts you would switch to the Sie‑form.

✦Grammar Breakdown

HoldirzuerstrechtlichenRat

1

Imperative (du) with reflexive pronoun

‘Hol’ is the du‑imperative of ‘holen’. When the verb takes a dative object like ‘dir’, the pronoun follows the verb without a comma.

2

Word order with adverb

Adverbs such as ‘zuerst’ normally appear directly after the object pronoun in the imperative: ‘Hol dir zuerst …’.

3

Accusative adjective ending

‘Rat’ is masculine accusative; the preceding adjective ‘rechtlich’ takes the strong ending ‘‑en’ (rechtlichen) because there is no article.

🗨In Conversation

A

Ich will das Haus ohne Notar kaufen.

I want to buy the house without a notary.

Hol dir zuerst rechtlichen Rat.

Get legal advice first.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Hol dir zuerst rechtliche Rat.

    The adjective must agree with the masculine accusative noun ‘Rat’, so it takes the ending –en, not –e.

  • Hol dir zuerst rechtlichen Rat.

    In formal situations the du‑imperative is inappropriate; use the Sie‑imperative instead.

  • Hol dir, zuerst rechtlichen Rat.

    Avoid placing a comma before ‘zuerst’; German word order does not require it.

↔Alternatives

  • Suche zuerst rechtlichen Rat.

    Seek legal advice first.

  • Hole dir zunächst rechtlichen Rat.

    Get legal advice initially.

  • Lass dich zuerst rechtlich beraten.

    Let yourself be legally advised first.

de

Cultural Tip

‘Hol dir …’ is informal (du). In business or with strangers you should use the formal form: ‘Holen Sie sich zuerst rechtlichen Rat.’ Also note that Germans often prefer the noun ‘Beratung’ (advice) over ‘Rat’ in written, official contexts.