Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Law and Public Administration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Berlin School of Economics and Law Schoneberg Campus

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in Law and Public Administration at HWR Berlin's Schöneberg Campus is a hands-on program designed for students passionate about applying law in real-world public service, blending legal expertise with administrative skills to prepare you for senior roles in government and public organizations. It's perfect if you have a strong interest in public policy, administration, or law enforcement, and it offers flexible tracks—with or without Laufbahnbefähigung (civil service qualification)—including mandatory internships that give you invaluable practical experience right in Berlin's dynamic public sector.

Curriculum Structure
Years 1-2 (Semesters 1-3): You'll start with a solid foundation in core legal principles and public administration basics, building skills to analyze and apply laws effectively in administrative contexts. Courses like those focusing on legal fundamentals, administrative procedures, and introductory public law equip you to handle everyday governance challenges, while supplementary modules in business, social sciences, and politics broaden your perspective for versatile problem-solving.

Year 3 (Semesters 4-5, including internship): This phase ramps up with a compulsory work placement in semester 4 (lasting several months, extendable in longer tracks), where you'll apply classroom knowledge in real public authorities or organizations—think district offices or legal firms specializing in admin law. You'll dive into advanced topics like principle-based decision-making in senate administration or legislative functions, honing your ability to make impactful legal calls in public settings.

Years 4-5 (Semesters 6-7, for extended tracks): Final years emphasize leadership and complex administrative law, culminating in your Bachelor's thesis and exams, with another internship option in semester 6 for deeper immersion. Modules sharpen your expertise in mid-to-senior management tasks, public interest decision-making, and interdisciplinary skills like communication and teamwork, setting you up for immediate career impact.

Focus Areas
Public administration law, legal decision-making in government contexts, administrative procedures, e-Government, human resources in the public sector, and interdisciplinary skills in business, economics, politics, and social sciences.

Learning Outcomes
Graduates gain specialist legal knowledge for senior administrative roles, strong analytical skills for legal situations in public contexts, high-level communication and social competencies (including English legal discussions), responsibility, public interest orientation, and readiness for middle management in state administrations, public companies, or non-profits.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
Fully accredited by the Akkreditierungsrat, with pathways to Laufbahnbefähigung (Laufbahngruppe 2, 1) for direct entry into higher civil service in Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt—preparing you for constitutive legal work in public administrations without needing a full state exam.

Reputation (Employability Rankings)
HWR Berlin's Department of Legal Studies is renowned for its practical, job-ready training, producing graduates with excellent prospects in higher judicial service and public admin across Berlin, Brandenburg, and Saxony-Anhalt—specialist orientation ensures very good employment in future-oriented roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Laws (RöV LL.B.) in Law and Public Administration at HWR Berlin isn't just about lectures and textbooks—it's designed to transform you into a skilled legal professional ready for real-world administrative work. Throughout your seven-semester journey, you'll move seamlessly between classroom learning and hands-on experience, building the expertise that employers in public administration, government agencies, and the not-for-profit sector actively seek.

From your first semester onward, HWR Berlin integrates two mandatory work placements directly into your degree structure, ensuring you're not passively learning about public administration—you're actively doing it. These internships anchor your theoretical knowledge in the fourth and sixth semesters, giving you genuine professional experience while you study. The program balances rigorous legal training with essential communication, cooperation, and problem-solving skills that define success in administrative careers. This blended approach means you'll develop judgment and confidence in diverse professional situations, preparing you for positions in state administrations, district-level legal offices, legislative functions, and beyond.

HWR Berlin leverages its position as one of Berlin's largest universities of applied sciences specializing in business and administration to provide students with access to modern learning environments and professional networks. The Department of Public Administration emphasizes the close interaction of Administration, Law, and Management in the public sector, reflecting how these fields actually intersect in your future workplace.

- Two compulsory work placements in professional legal and administrative settings during the fourth and sixth semesters, allowing you to apply concepts immediately
- Express study option available to complete the program in six semesters with structured internship phases between semesters for maximum flexibility
- Specialized modules covering Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Public Order Law, Civil Service Law, Public Service Law, Security and Regulatory Law, and Construction Law—all taught with practical application in mind
- Administrative Modernization and e-Government training equipping you with digital competencies essential for 21st-century public administration
- Human Resources management coursework preparing you for both professional and managerial roles in public sector organizations
- Laufbahnbefähigung qualification available upon completion, formally certifying you for higher administrative positions in German public service
- Access to the Department of Public Administration's integrated network connecting you with real legal offices, public authorities, and private companies performing public sector functions
- Career pathways across senate administrations, district legal offices, federal and European Union agencies, the not-for-profit sector, and private organizations working with the state

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin) Schöneberg Campus, our Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in Law and Public Administration stands out for its hands-on approach, where you'll build real-world legal skills through structured work placements and practical modules designed for public sector careers. In the program's seven-semester structure (or express six-semester option), you'll dive into compulsory internships that give you direct experience in public authorities, mirroring the day-to-day demands of administrative law—think applying constitutional law, administrative procedures, and civil service regulations in actual settings. This isn't just theory; modules like "Team Work: Legal Decisions as a Complex Procedure" in the master's track (building on the bachelor's foundation) sharpen your ability to handle group-based legal analysis, while the Department of Public Administration emphasizes practical training close to real cases.

Here's how you'll gain that edge with program-specific experiential learning:
- Compulsory work placements: Two internships integrated into the curriculum (fourth and sixth semesters), lasting several months each, at public authorities, private organizations handling public tasks, or law firms specializing in Public Administration Law—perfect for networking and proving your skills on the job.
- Group projects and teamwork: Modules such as "Team Work: Legal Decisions as a Complex Procedure" focus on collaborative legal problem-solving, simulating complex administrative procedures in small groups for that essential co-operation edge in public roles.
- Practical academic working practices: Hands-on training in "The Principles of Legal Science and Academic Working Practices," building skills in legal analysis, case work, and procedural rules across civil, constitutional, and administrative law.