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Law

Important information at a glance

Degree: State examinationLanguage of Instruction: GermanStart of studies: Winter and summer semesterAdmission: NC (restricted admission)Standard period of study: 9 semestersSemester abroad: Optional

The aim of the degree program is to prepare students for legal practice and to provide them with a solid foundation in the most important areas of law. Students will also develop the ability to analyze and process unfamiliar legal fields using the methods they have learned.  

Throughout the course of study, core areas of civil law, criminal law, public law, and constitutional law, including European law connections, are covered. Additionally, there is a focus on the philosophical, historical, economic, and societal fundamentals of the legal system.  

For more information about this field of study, please visit our department’s homepage for prospective students:  

www.jura.uni-frankfurt.de/studieninteressierte

At the law faculty, high school students can also take advantage of various offerings. You can find more information on the central page for events for high school students. Prospective students can also learn more about the Law degree program through the department’s OSA (Online Study Selection Assistant).  

To help students transition into their studies, a four-day orientation course is offered, followed by an extensive mentoring program for first-year students and a lecture on legal work techniques.  

Students also receive ongoing guidance during their studies through a comprehensive tutorial program for all required courses, a Career Day (job and internship fair for students), and writing support during the term paper period.  

Additional resources include free notebook rentals for students, the opportunity to earn a diploma in French law, participation in Moot Court competitions, and exchange opportunities through the Erasmus program and other international partnerships.  

For exam preparation, the department offers a year-round free UniRep program, a course on exam writing with individualized exam optimization, two mock exams, a simulated oral exam, and personalized exam counseling.

Structure and Content

Law can be studied as a major subject or a minor subject.

Major subject
Minor subject

Course of studies

Mandatory Course Studies

Semesters 1–5

During the first four semesters, students must pass the intermediate exam. Additionally, students complete the so-called beginner and advanced certificates in the three areas of law: criminal law, civil law, and public law, as well as a certificate in the fundamentals of law.  

Specialization Studies

Semesters 6–8

The specialization studies serve as a supplement and deepening of the mandatory course studies. Six areas of specialization are offered:  

  • Europeanization and Internationalization of Law  
  • Law and Finance  
  • Fundamentals of Law  
  • Constitution, Administration, Regulation  
  • Employment, Social Issues, Life Situations  
  • Criminology

During Your Studies

Key Skills

Students are required to complete two courses in the area of key skills. These include a foreign language class and a class specifically focused on key skills.

Semester break

see hands-on training

Examinations

State Mandatory Examination

The state mandatory examination consists of six written supervised tests (2x private law, 2x public law, 1x criminal law, 1x labor, commercial, or corporate law) and one oral examination.

Focus Area Examination

The Focus Area Examination consists of four coursework assessments completed alongside your studies in the chosen focus area and the final scientific term paper.

The law program is divided into the mandatory course phase (1st–5th semester) and the specialized area phase (6th–8th semester). The program concludes with the First Exam (state examination), which consists of the state mandatory course exam (weighted at 70%) and the university specialized area exam (weighted at 30%).

Mandatory Course Phase  
During the first five semesters, the focus is primarily on passing the intermediate exam and earning the beginner and advanced certificates in the three areas of law: criminal law, civil law, and public law, as well as the certificate in the fundamentals of law.

Specialized Area  
The specialized area phase complements and deepens the mandatory course phase. Six specialized areas are offered:

  1. Europeanization and Internationalization of Law  
  2. Law and Finance  
  3. Fundamentals of Law  
  4. Constitution, Administration, Regulation  
  5. Employment, Social Issues, Life Situations  
  6. Criminal Sciences  
     

Key Qualifications
Additionally, students must complete two key qualification requirements. These are fulfilled by successfully attending a foreign-language class and participating in an event focused on key qualifications in the narrower sense, which is thematically aligned with legal practice or career-oriented fields. For more information on acquiring key qualifications during your studies and the specific design of individual events, please visit the webpage of the Faculty Center for Key Qualifications.

Study Regulations

The study regulations define the structure, organization, and substance of the degree program as well as the examination system. They serve as the foundation for your studies at Goethe University.

Study Regulations