Bucerius Law School celebrates 25 years – A new path for law students!

Bucerius Law School celebrates 25 years – A new path for law students!

On June 26, 2025, Bucerius Law School celebrated its 25th anniversary. At a ceremony in Hamburg City Hall, over 1,000 participants gathered to honor the achievements of the first private foundation law school in Germany. The school was founded in 2000 and has since established itself as one of the leading institutions in the field of legal education. President Prof. Dr. In his speech, Michael Grünberger underlined the university's vision for the future of law studies.

A central concern of Bucerius Law School is the training of lawyers who develop innovative solutions based on the rule of law. The training philosophy focuses on social impact and the development of skills such as creative desire, resilience, empathy and intercultural skills. These skills are particularly important at a time when legal issues are becoming increasingly global and complex.

Innovative study structure

The Bucerius Law School has distinguished itself by introducing independent bachelor's and master's degrees as well as by integrating student legal advice into the curriculum. In order to make legal training modern, the examination course was also redesigned. The university plans to offer a modern bachelor's degree program from 2027 that is intended to train legally experienced generalists.

Another important element is the first integrated law clinic in Germany, which will be included in the curriculum. This is intended to offer students practical experience and strengthen their social commitment. In addition, a new loop model will be introduced to modernize legal education, linking theoretical knowledge with practical skills.

Admission and course content

Bucerius Law School attaches great importance to fair and inclusive admissions. The selection process consists of a written and an oral part, with no minimum Abitur grade required. This means that those interested without a numerus clausus also have access to legal training. The Abitur grade only influences a third of the result of the written selection process.

The study of law itself aims to provide a deeper understanding of legal texts. The standard period of study is nine semesters and ends with the first state law examination. The period of study is followed by a two-year traineeship, which ends with the second state examination in law. Both exams are a prerequisite for obtaining the qualification to become a judge and thus be able to practice classic legal professions such as lawyer or notary.

Since its founding, Bucerius Law School has produced over 2,200 successful graduates who now hold leadership positions in various areas. Their education is considered to be of high quality, which is reflected in the university's continuous top position in German university rankings.

The focus of the training extends across various legal areas, including social and capital market law, European and international law as well as economic and medical criminal law. This breadth makes Bucerius Law School an attractive place for aspiring lawyers who want to prepare for the challenges of modern society.