German Law Studies

In Germany, degree courses in law are made up of two parts. The first is a course of study at a university lasting at least four years. This ends with the "First State Examination in Law". The second part is a two-year period of practical legal training in the various legal fields. This "Referendariat" ("legal clerkship"), leads up to the "Second State Examination in Law". In principle, successful graduates are free to work in any legal profession.

Structure of the course at the Viadrina

The degree course in German Law Studies at the Viadrina is divided into three phases. You start with the Foundation Phase, which lasts for 3 semesters and is rounded off by an intermediate examination. This is followed by the Main Phase lasting a further 5-7 semesters. The programme is concluded by the Examination Phase. Depending how you plan your course, the Main Phase and Examination Phase may overlap to some extent. Given the faculty's challenging programme, most students need nine semesters (maximum duration supported by BAföG loans) to complete the programme.

Foundation Phase and intermediate examination

The Foundation Phase introduces you to the underlying elements of law (e.g. legal history, legal philosophy, legal logic) and the compulsory fields of law (civil, criminal and public law). The lectures on civil, criminal and public law, known as basic courses (Grundkurse), not only provide you with the necessary technical legal knowledge, but also help you develop the specifically legal way of working on solving practical cases, e.g. writing expert opinions or applying rules to particular facts. The basic courses are backed up by tutorials. The responsible tutors make use of case examples for revision purposes and to hone practical skills. The Foundation Phase is concluded by the intermediate examination. It consists of examinations on the lectures given in the basic courses and a coursework assignment. The assignment should be completed by the end of the third semester. After passing the intermediate examination, many of our students go to one of our 170 partner universities abroad for one or two semesters.

Main Phase

The subsequent Main Phase is divided into two segments which usually run parallel to each other. On the one hand, you will have further, in-depth lectures on the compulsory subjects of civil, criminal and public law. The so-called "major exercises" in the three compulsory subjects are also part of this segment; here, you have to take case examinations and solve assignment cases. On the other hand, the Main Phase also sees the start of the elective areas. Here you choose one of the seven special subjects offered by the faculty. In line with the Viadrina's profile, international and European law is especially well represented among the elective areas, so that you can study European and international criminal, civil and business law – or classic international and European law. We are also one of the few universities in Germany offering media law and Polish law. Many students also choose to study criminal justice.

Examination Phase

The course of study is concluded by the Examination Phase with the First State Examination in Law.

The First State Examination in Law

At all universities in Germany, this final law examination is divided into a university section and a state section. The university section of the examination accounts for one third, the state section two thirds of the overall mark of the First State Examination in Law. The state section of the examination at the Viadrina is determined by Brandenburg state (i.e. regional or Land) law. It consists of a total of seven examinations in the three compulsory subjects (civil, criminal and public law) plus European law. The university examination is made up of three parts that must be passed in the chosen elective area: a written examination (usually a legal case), a term paper (usually an academic essay on a specific topic) and an oral examination. You will thus be examined on the elective area you chose in the Main Phase. You can either take the state and university examination sections at the same time or successively. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded the title of "Diplom-Jurist" ("graduate lawyer"). If your ambition is neither to pursue a legal career in the civil service nor to become a solicitor or attorney, you can try your luck in the professional world with this degree.

Practical legal training (Referendariat)

After passing the First State Examination in Law you can begin practical legal training anywhere Germany. During this two-year period, you work in various different places to gain an insight into the different legal careers. Training as a lawyer/attorney takes up the longest phase of nine months. You will also work in the law courts, the criminal justice system and administration. You can also pursue your own interests during an elective internship; you might like to check out the work of an international organization, for example. This period of practical training is concluded by the Second State Examination in Law. This examination varies according to the regional law in the respective state (Land) where the university is situated, but always includes written examinations, an oral examination, and sometimes a paper. On completion of the "assessor examination", you will be a "Volljurist" ("fully qualified lawyer") with the qualification to become a judge. This qualification for judges is a compulsory requirement for the most important legal professions, such as that of solicitor/attorney or notary public. The "assessor examination" will also qualify you for all other legal professions, e.g. in administration, business or associations.