5 Best Law Schools in Germany

It’s no real wonder that German Law students are recognized as some of the most qualified legal professionals on the planet. Besides the ever-expanding programs offered by these world-class institutes, Germany’s top law schools work hard to nurture an impressive resolve within their students.

Being one of the most time-intensive curricula on the Earth, the average student studying German Law hits the books for around 7 to 11 years before being admitted to the bar. Committed students develop a distinct dedication to legal practice. And though this extensive process may seem arduous and lengthy, many international students travel from across the globe to hone their legal skills to a keen edge.

Thankfully, Germany’s top law schools are constantly expanding their curriculum to fit the needs of the modern market. New programs offered to English students include both European law and business law and, of course, German law. Every year these institutions are developing new courses to assert themselves as premier, world-class learning environments. And with dozens of Universitäten to choose from, it’s important to know which ones stand out from their peers. Read on for an overview of the top Law Schools in Germany.

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Best Law Schools in Germany

1. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit ät München – University of Munich

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees Offered: Formation in German Law, LL.M., PhD, MUST, MACIL
  • Language: German, English summer school option available

Established in Ingolstadt, 1472, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität’s (LMU) Faculty of Law was one of the original, founding-faculties of the university. Soon after moving the institution to Munich, it rose to become one of Germany’s leading law schools, solidifying itself as the best of the best in the German academic field.

Now renowned as one of Europe’s principal academic facilities, LMU boasts an outstanding reputation for quality. Taking a broad, expansive approach to education, study at LMU’s Law School will take students through every facet of German law. Beginning with private, public and criminal law, and expanding further beyond that, students will slowly become familiar with multiple practices within the legal field. It is only at the end of the program where students will get a chance to specialize.

Currently, LMU only offers summer school options in English.

2. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin)

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees Offered: LL.M., ELS, FRS, DPRS, J.D. / M.LL.P
  • Language: German and English

Founded two hundred and twenty years ago, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – more commonly known as HU Berlin – is perched neatly near the top of German tertiary education. Active in its community and proud of its history, HU Berlin boasts a talented staff of lecturers and researchers focusing on what they deem to be socially relevant topics.

Their Law School is often regarded as one of the top law schools in Germany. They are also a partner school with Cornell Law School, offering a joint degree program in J.D. / M.LL.P and occasionally allowing students over to study in an Autumn exchange.

HU Berlin currently offers courses in both English and German.

3. Universität Bonn – University of Bonn

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees Offered: LL.M.
  • Language: German, limited English and Turkish

Straddling the Rhine river, the city of Bonn is remembered as not only the birthplace of Ludwig van Beethoven but also the home of the Universität Bonn, also known as the University of Bonn. Established in 1818, with the Faculty of Law opening a year later in 1819, the University of Bonn has a long history of success. Producing multiple Nobel Prize-winning scholars, it’s easy to understand why the University of Bonn would be considered such a prestigious institute to study law.

During the early semesters of study, the University of Bonn’s Law School offers a large number of tutorial groups in which budding lawyers may revise lecture content with peers and professors.

The University of Bonn has only limited, semester-long courses available in English and Turkish. All lectures are in German.

4. Bucerius Law School – Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft

Unique, fresh, and brilliantly progressive, Hochschule für Rechtswissenschaft or Bucerius Law School is fast becoming the premier location to study law. Established in the year 2000, Bucerius is Germany’s first private law school. Aiming to establish and represent German legal academics on an international platform, Bucerius Law School was founded upon the principle of less is more.

With extremely limited spaces available, the boutique Bucerius is able to shape itself as it needs, and quickly. They focus on interdisciplinary disciplines to better equip students for looking for prospective jobs in the future. Despite being such a young university, Bucerius is already regarded as one of the best law schools in Germany.

Bucerius Law School offers a Master of Law and Business in English only.

5. Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg – Heidelberg University

  • Law School Link
  • Degrees Offered: LL.M.
  • Language: German, English, Spanish

On the order of Pope Urban VI, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg or Heidelberg University was erected in 1386. It exists as not only Germany’s oldest university but also one of the oldest surviving universities in the world. As with many of Germany’s universities, Heidelberg is a public university, and therefore costs of tuition are lower than what would be expected. For a degree in LL.M. specializing in German Law, Heidelberg offers the twelve-month course to students for €1000.00 or around $1,179 USD.

As is standard for German education practices, Heidelberg University focuses on providing students with a broad education in law, focusing on specialized legal research at the outset of the program. A much more traditional approach to studying law, Heidelberg University continues with its tried and true method of education that has produced many Nobel Prize-winning scholars. It’s clear Heidelberg stands as one of Germany’s top law schools.

Heidelberg offers specialized LL.M. degrees in multiple subjects taught in English, Spanish, and German. They also offer a part-time course taught in English in German specializing in Corporate Restructuring.

 

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