Law (First State Examinations / Bachelor's Degree)

5 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Bremen

Program Overview

If you’re serious about building a long-term legal career in Germany, the Law (First State Examination / LL.B.) at the University of Bremen is a strong and structured pathway to get there. It’s not just a typical degree—you’ll gain a solid academic foundation in law while also working toward the official state qualification required to become a lawyer, judge, or prosecutor.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1–2 (Building your foundation)

You’ll start by getting comfortable with the core pillars of law—Civil Law, Criminal Law, and Public Law—while learning how to think, argue, and analyse like a lawyer. This stage is all about developing your legal mindset, understanding how laws are structured, and building confidence in handling cases and legal texts.

Year 3–5 (Deepening your knowledge)

As you move forward, the same core areas—Civil Law, Criminal Law, and Public Law—become more advanced and practical. You’ll work on complex case studies, sharpen your legal reasoning, and start applying what you’ve learned to real-world legal scenarios. This is where your understanding becomes more detailed and professionally relevant.

Year 4–5 (Specialising and shaping your path)

Later in the program, you’ll have the chance to specialise in areas such as International and European Economic Law, Environmental Law, or Criminal Law and Policy. You’ll also complete your Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) after around 8 semesters, while continuing to prepare for the First State Examination. This phase helps you focus on what truly interests you and prepares you for your future career direction.

Focus Areas

Civil Law, Criminal Law, Public Law, International & European Economic Law, Environmental Law, Labour & Social Law, Legal Theory and Policy

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, you’ll have a strong grasp of legal systems, the ability to analyse and solve complex legal problems, and the confidence to apply your knowledge in real-life situations—along with solid preparation for the state examination and legal training.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This program follows the official German legal education pathway, leading to the First State Examination, which is essential if you want to qualify professionally and move into roles like lawyer, judge, or prosecutor.

Reputation (Employability / Academic Strength)

The University of Bremen offers a research-driven and practical learning environment, with opportunities like specialisations and applied legal training that support strong career prospects in both public and private sectors.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Bremen, our BA Law program stands out because it goes beyond textbooks to give you real-world skills through hands-on experiences right from the start. You'll dive into practical legal work using the university's modern Moot Court, where you simulate real courtroom scenarios to build arguing and advocacy skills. The program partners with local courts, law firms, and institutions for internships and externships, letting you apply what you're learning in actual professional settings. Plus, with access to specialized digital tools and collaborative projects, you'll develop the toolkit employers want.

Here's how experiential learning comes to life in the BA Law program:
- Moot Court simulations: Practice as a lawyer in our dedicated Moot Court room, complete with judge's bench, witness stands, and audiovisual tech for realistic trials and hearings—perfect for honing public speaking and legal strategy.
- Internships and externships: Mandatory placements at Bremen courts, law offices, notary publics, and public authorities, often starting in the second semester, giving you 8-12 weeks of on-the-job experience.
- Group projects and clinics: Collaborate in legal advice clinics run with the Studierenden Rechtsklinik Bremen, tackling real client cases like contract disputes or social law issues under faculty supervision.
- Digital tools and software: Use specialized platforms like Beck-Online and Juris for legal research, plus the university's high-performance computing clusters for data analysis in digital law modules.
- Field trips and excursions: Regular visits to the Bremen State Court, European institutions in nearby Hamburg, and international moot court competitions.
- Dedicated research facilities: Work in the interdisciplinary Center for Transnational Studies (ZenTra) and the Institute of Law and Economics, with labs equipped for empirical legal research using statistical software like Stata and R.
- Libraries and resources: 24/7 access to the SuUB law library with 500,000+ volumes, e-journals, and case databases, plus study spaces with legal tech workstations.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the University of Bremen, BA Law students dive right into practical, hands-on learning that builds real-world skills from day one. You'll work with cutting-edge legal tools and facilities designed to simulate professional environments, like moot courts where you argue cases just like a lawyer, and access to specialized software for legal research and case analysis. Our program emphasizes experiential learning through collaborations with local courts, firms, and institutes, giving you the edge you need to stand out. Here's how we make it happen:

- Moot Court and Simulation Exercises: Practice courtroom scenarios in our dedicated Moot Court room at the Faculty of Law building (GW1), complete with judge's bench, witness stand, and audiovisual tech for realistic trials and negotiations.
- Legal Clinics and Pro Bono Projects: Join student-led clinics partnering with the university's Zentrum für Menschenrechte (Centre for Human Rights) and local NGOs for group projects advising real clients on immigration, labor, or consumer law.
- Internships and Externships: Mandatory internships in your third year with Bremen courts, law firms, or the public prosecutor's office, plus optional placements via our network with the Bremer Ämter für Justizvollzug (justice authorities).
- Specialized Software and Digital Tools: Hands-on training with legal databases like Beck-Online, Juris, and Westlaw (via university licenses), plus our virtual learning platform Stud.IP for collaborative case work and AI-assisted legal drafting tools.
- Field Trips and Excursions: Regular visits to the Bremen State Court (Landgericht), European Court of Justice simulations in Luxembourg, and workshops at the nearby Hanse Law School consortium.
- Research Labs and Institutes: Access to the Institute for Legal Theory and the Collaborative Research Centre 1385 "Law and Economy" labs for empirical legal research projects, using data analysis software like R and NVivo.
- Libraries and Resources: The dedicated Law Library (Rechtsbibliothek) in GW1 with 150,000+ volumes, e-resources, and quiet study pods; plus 24/7 digital access through the university's SuUB library system.