Hi!
I've searched around for a bit, but not sure I'm in the right place or not.

My question is this. I'll be finishing my Bachelor's in a few semesters. I'm a non-traditional student so I'm glad to finally see the end! Regardless, I plan on taking the LSAT in December and applying to Law Schools in the US.

I'm also contemplating going to law school in Germany. I lived there for a few years and fell in love with the country and culture. I'd ultimately like to live there full-time.

All that said, is that possible? I've found a few items located at the Universities of Trier and Heidelberg, but nothing definite. Could someone assist as to where I could find more information or what I'm possibly looking at? Heck, is it even a possibility?

Thanks in advance!
Kimberly

What is your law degree ? You'd rather choice your German law schools in regards of your degree?

Love, Germany doesn't have law schools. We just have faculties of law. that means if you where to pursue a law degree you would have to start from scratch and your bachelor wouldn't count. Studying law here takes 5 years up to the first bar exam, than another 2 years law internship to the 2nd bar exam so it is long and very difficult.

It is possible though - if you have passed the german language exam PNDS at the university of your choice.

your best bet i guess is to apply for one of the llm programs for foreigners that are offered in many german universities. normally they are for people that have already finished their legal education back home though

Thanks Berlin...
I'm admitted to Munich, the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center... is it good ? You ever heard from this university ?

I can recommend the new LL.M. Programme "Master of Laws in Corporate Restructuring" at the University of Heidelberg. It is all about legal and business aspects of corporate restructuring. A very good programme!
(http://www.llm-corp-restruc.de)

Hi Olive,
sorry I am not famliliar with that particulare programme. But the university in Munich as well as the university in Heidelberg are known for outstanding quality in Germany. Don't worry, it'll be fine. One thing you should know if you come to Germany is that cost of living varies very stongly from one city to the other. Heidelberg and Munich are both extremely expensive, especially for rent.
If you want to save a few bugs or may not be able to pay so much you should consider Berlin (rent is about half of what you pay in Munich...). Many smaller university towns have very good programmes too.

Berlinlad, could you please recommend a good University in Berlin?

I possibly will go to Berlin this summer, I want to study German. I would like to find a good University but I have no idea how the Universities of Berlin are ranked. What Universities are good in your opinion? Thanks!

There are two law faculities in Berlin and one in Potsdam, which is the capital of the state of Brandenburg that surrounds Berlin. Neither of them would count as "ivy league" and really compares to Heidelberg or Munich. But they are all good universities. I really would find it difficult to pick say that this or that one is better. Most students here pick their place either as a matter of personal preference or because they are interested in specific courses that are only offered in one of them. Rankings have come to very conflicting results so I wouldn't really count on them. Pick what you like best and what you find interesting.

Humboldt University is the oldest uni in Berlin and is situated on the main boulevard in east Berlin, Unter den Linden. It has a (well deserved) reputation for being very very liberal and that reflects in the dress of students sometimes. Since Humboldt is in east Berlin a lot of the building still reaks the air of communism, first thing you see when coming in is a gigangtic Marx quotation and in the law library the windows show paintings of Lenin working and studying...

Freie Universität in West Berlin was founded with american help (Ford Foundation) in the 50s in resistance to the communist takeover of the other uni. Some of the FU's founding students where therfore kidnapped and deported to Siberia by the russians. The Uni is located in a very rich and beautiful suburban neighbourhood in West Berlin.

Potsdam lawschool is also in the former east of course, the law faculty is in the beautiful park of Sans Souci Castle. I cannot really tell you much about that school, a lot of people go there just because they couldn't get in to one of the Berlin schools. Cost of living in Potsdam (rent) is higher than in Berlin and it' a small town (but only 30min suburban train ride into Berlin city centre).

I know that FU offers an LLM for foreign lawyers who wish to learn about German law and the students I have known have all been very happy with it. I would suggest you take a look at the content of the programs, see what you're interested in, than take into consideration your personal preferences and make your choice based on that.

Also the choice of a university here is not comparable to that in the states. Unis aren't private (with the exception of Bucerius Law School in Hamburg), so the standards are pretty much the same everywhere. There are differences inbetween federal states though. The southern states have more money so unis are better funded. You may find that they have a library that opens 24 hours a day rather than just 9-9 as in Berlin and so on. Furniture is probably newer and the buildings in better shape. But I don't believe that this really affects the reputation of your degree or the quality of it. The main thing to look at when choosing a uni here is

- content of the program
- cost of the program
- cost of living in the respective city
- the city itself- do you want to spend a year there

berlinlad, hey,

thanks so much for such a detailed reply. I googled Humboldt hoping to find a summer program but it appears that they offer English language classes in summer:< I will keep looking!

In your post, you mentioned that neither of the Berlin Universities belong to the ivy league. I am just curious--what Universities do belong there?

I guess Bucerius does...

...and of course Heidelberg!