The law programme targeted at the first legal examination consists of four different parts: the introductory year, the intermediate year, the specialisation year and the revision year. In addition, vocational preparation courses have to be attended. Courses at the Law Department are held in German.

The introductory year is concluded by the intermediate examination, for which all modules of the first year have to be passed. Students will take two written exams each in the fields of civil and public law, one written exam and one term paper in criminal law as well as two further written exams in history of law and legal theory.

In the intermediate year, students will continue to build upon their previous knowledge in the three core areas: civil law, criminal law, and public law, complemented by the respective procedural law of each area and current European law verified by mandatory term papers and written exams. Furthermore, students have to prove their academic skills by writing a profound paper in an area of their choice.

The elective subjects of the specialisation year serve to build the profile of the Law Department and are determined according to the areas of expertise and research interests of the teaching staff. Students may choose among seven different fields of specialisation:

• Foundations of Law
• Private consumer law, private insurance law and private international law
• Company, Business and Tax Law
• Employment Law and Social Security Law
• Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Economy, Environment and Social Affairs
• Internationalisation of the Legal System

The specialisation year consists of modules from two ‘sub-specialisations’ within the relevant field. The examination comprises two parts: a thesis with an 8-week writing time in the first ‘sub-specialisation’, followed by a 30-minute oral defence, and a 5-hour written exam covering material from the second ‘sub-specialisation’.

Following the specialisation year, the revision year reiterates all mandatory content of the entire study programme, preparing students for the state examination. This is followed by an additional term of self-study and preparation.

The first legal examination in the 10th term is conducted by the Joint Legal Examination Office of the states of Berlin and Brandenburg and comprises a written and an oral part. The written part consists of seven 5-hour exams: three in civil law and two each in criminal and public law. The oral examination consists of a 10-minute presentation by the student, followed by 45-minute examination sessions in civil law, criminal law and public law.

As part of the mandatory vocational preparation, students must complete a course that confirms knowledge of legal terminology in a foreign language of their choice. Additionally, students are required to obtain a certificate in a professionally relevant soft skills course (e.g. negotiation, communication skills, rhetoric, arbitration, mediation, or interview techniques). Finally, they must complete a three-month internship at a court, law firm, or administrative authority during the lecture-free period.