Bachelor of Laws

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Potsdam

Program Overview

If you’re looking for a law degree that gives you both flexibility and strong career security, the Law (First State Examination + integrated LL.B.) at the University of Potsdam is a really smart choice. You don’t just study law in theory—you build a deep understanding of civil, criminal, and public law while developing practical skills that prepare you for real legal careers or further studies.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
You start by laying a strong foundation in the core areas of law, including Civil Law (Bürgerliches Recht I), Public Law (Öffentliches Recht I), and Criminal Law (Strafrecht I). At the same time, you’ll learn how to think like a lawyer—developing legal reasoning, case analysis, and structured argumentation skills that you’ll use throughout your degree.

Year 2:
As you move forward, things get more interesting and in-depth. You’ll continue with advanced subjects like Civil Law II–III, Public Law II–III, and Criminal Law II, where you start working with more complex legal problems and real-case scenarios, sharpening your analytical thinking and confidence.

Year 3:
By now, you’re diving deeper into the legal system with higher-level modules such as Civil Law III–VII, Public Law III–VI, and Criminal Law III–IV. You’ll also take a foreign legal language course, which is a great advantage if you’re thinking about an international career or working across borders.

Year 4–5 (State Exam Phase):
In the final stage, your focus shifts toward preparing for the First State Examination, which is the key step toward becoming a qualified lawyer in Germany. This phase brings everything together—you revise core subjects, refine your legal reasoning, and build the confidence needed to step into professional legal roles.

Focus Areas

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, you’ll be able to confidently analyse legal problems, apply laws to real-world situations, and build strong, well-structured arguments. You’ll also gain a clear understanding of how law connects with society, politics, and international systems.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This program follows the official German legal training structure and leads to the First State Examination, which is essential if you want to become a lawyer, judge, or prosecutor in Germany.

Reputation (Employability & Recognition)

Graduates from Potsdam are well-prepared for careers in law firms, government institutions, courts, and even international organisations. The university has a strong reputation in legal education, especially within the Brandenburg and Berlin region, giving you access to valuable professional opportunities.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Potsdam's BA Public Law program, you'll dive into practical skills through hands-on research projects, group interactions with international peers, and access to top-tier digital tools that prepare you for real-world legal and policy challenges. The program emphasizes experiential learning via collaborations like the joint International Relations MA with partner universities, research modules, and direct exchanges that build teamwork and global perspectives. You'll work with specialized software and facilities tailored for political and social sciences analysis, right in modern classrooms and libraries.

Here's what stands out for gaining those practical edges::
- Research practice modules: Individual projects (up to 4 semester periods per week) in master's-level extensions, fostering independent legal and policy research skills applicable to BA Public Law.
- Group projects and interactions: Opportunities to collaborate with exchange students from Franco-German programs and direct partner universities, plus tutorials for first-year students to build team-based problem-solving.
- Software and digital tools: Free access to Citavi and Endnote for literature management, MAXQDA for qualitative data/text analysis, and statistics software in dedicated department classrooms—perfect for law case studies and policy data.
- Libraries and media access: Faculty library with one of Germany's largest online collections (over 500 political/social science databases), accessible from home for Potsdam students.
- Research institutes: Ties to the Research Centre for Sustainability (FFN), Cluster of Excellence SCRIPTS, and Collaborative Research Centre 1171 "Affective Societies," offering labs and facilities for interdisciplinary public law research.
- Study abroad and exchanges: Erasmus+ and direct global partners for field-like immersion, enhancing practical international law exposure.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At the University of Potsdam's BA Public Law program, you'll dive into hands-on learning that builds real-world skills through interactive courses, research projects, and access to top-notch digital tools right from the start. You'll work on practical modules that mirror legal and public policy challenges, collaborating with peers and experts while using specialized software to analyze data and craft arguments. This setup ensures you're not just studying theory—you're applying it in ways that prepare you for careers in law, administration, or policy.

To give you a clear picture: here are the key experiential learning opportunities and facilities tailored to public law studies, drawing from the university's strong research and international ties:

- Research practice modules: Individual projects (up to 4 semester periods per week) where you conduct your own public law research, building skills in analysis and evidence-based policy.
- Group interactions and projects: Courses designed for collaboration with exchange students from partner universities, fostering teamwork on public law topics like international relations and policy.
- Study abroad and internships: Options for semesters at global partners via Erasmus or direct exchanges, plus pathways to internships through Franco-German programs and networks like the Research Centre for Sustainability (FFN).
- Specialized software and digital tools: Free access to Citavi and Endnote for literature management, MAXQDA for qualitative data and text analysis (perfect for legal research), plus statistics software in dedicated classrooms.
- Libraries and databases: One of Germany's largest collections with over 500 political and social science databases (accessible from home), supported by the university and faculty libraries.
- Research facilities: Ties to the Cluster of Excellence SCRIPTS (Contestations of the Liberal Script), Collaborative Research Centre 1171 "Affective Societies," and INTERACT Centre for Interdisciplinary Peace and Conflict Research—ideal for public law projects on governance and society.