Our LLB English Law and German Law course offers you two different pathways. You will spend the first two years of study at King’s College London. During the second semester of the second year, you must choose either the ‘First State Exam’ or the LLM option for the continuance of your studies. Please note that students can only opt for the First State Exam pathway if their school leaving certificate certificate is equivalent to the “Hochschulzulassungsberechtigung” and is also subject to an assessment by Humboldt University.
Students who want to practice law in Germany will be interested in pursuing the First State Exam, while the LLM will be an attractive option for students who want to practice in England and Wales but wish to obtain an in-depth knowledge of German law.
The 'First State Exam' option
Students who opt for the course Rechtswissenschaften (Legal Studies) will spend the third and fourth year abroad at Humboldt University of Berlin. You will have to complete your Grundstudium (basic studies) and Hauptstudium (advanced studies) in order to be eligible to sit the First State Exam. You will first generally complete the Grundstudium by studying the foundations of German law (e.g. Legal Philosophy, Legal History or Law and Sociology). For the purpose of completing the Grundstudium, Humboldt will recognise the German law subjects undertaken at King’s.
You will then study the subjects prescribed by Humboldt to complete the Hauptstudium (e.g., Company Law, Family Law, Labour Law, Civil Procedure, Administrative Law) and attend preparation classes for the first state exam. In order to be awarded a qualifying law degree by King’s College London you must study European Law at Humboldt University. Within an additional year you will complete the First State Exam in Berlin. Humboldt University will recognise the studies at King’s for the purposes of the Schwerpunktbereich No. 8 (Foreign Law/Studies at Foreign Partner Universities), which counts for 30% of the First State Exam.
Across years 1 and 2, students have to pass examinations in German Public Law, German Civil Law and German Criminal Law (as well as the other core English Law modules) in order to advance to year 3. Those German Law modules that have been passed will be recognised by Humboldt University as part of the Grundstudium (basic studies) for the First State Exam option. A student who fails German Criminal Law may continue on the course with the proviso that the student is only allowed to pursue the LLM option at Humboldt University.
The LLM option
Students who choose to pursue the LLM option will spend their third year at Humboldt University. You are required to study subjects in the following areas: foundations of German Law, German Private Law and German Public or Criminal Law. In order to be awarded a qualifying law degree by King’s College London you must study European Law at Humboldt University. However, you will also be able to choose from a wide range of additional modules.
To gain insight into the day-to-day practice of different legal professions you are required, during your year at Humboldt, to complete two placements with law firms or other public or private organisations. Finally, you will have to submit a Master thesis.
In your fourth year you return to King’s College London where you will choose three subjects from the general list of LLB Law modules. In addition you will have to study Jurisprudence & Legal Theory.
The Anglo-German programme can also be combined with the European Lawyer programme. After having completed the former, students add one year at University Paris II (Maitrise en droit), the University of Rome La Sapienza (Laurea Magistrale) or the University of Amsterdam (LLM International and European Law). Applications for the European Lawyer programme are managed internally as students approach the end of their undergraduate studies.
Teaching at King's
We have a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, with consistently high student satisfaction ratings for Law in the National Student Survey. All required modules are taught through lectures, small group tutorials and seminars. These tutorials and seminars will give you the opportunity to apply the general legal principles you have learnt to specific problems and allow you to engage with our academics and explore issues further in depth.
You will be assigned a personal tutor, who will provide academic and pastoral support during your studies. We attach great importance to maintaining good relations between staff and students and our Staff-Student Liaison Committee meets regularly to discuss how we can collectively enhance the student experience.
Teaching at Humboldt
Contact hours and expected self-study time at Humboldt University of Berlin vary and are communicated once students are accepted onto the programme and commence their studies.
Assessment at King's
Assessment of required modules will typically consist of an examination supplemented by written coursework, such as a written essay, where applicable. Assessment in optional modules varies and may encompass, for example, examinations, essays, moots, or a negotiation exercise.
Assessment at Humboldt
Assessment methods at Humboldt University of Berlin vary.
Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
This programme is further regulated by the:
- Law Benchmark Statement (2015)
- Criteria for degrees (University of London)
- Joint Statement of the Law Society and the General Council of the Bar (1999)
- H-level descriptors of the framework for higher education qualifications (2001)
Location
This course is primarily taught at the Strand and Waterloo campuses.
Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the optional modules you select.
Years 3 and 4 are taught at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany.
Special notes
Students can engage in real client work through the School’s Legal Clinic established in April 2017. Students who spend their final year of their degree at King's can select the Student Law Clinic module, while students of all years can apply to volunteer with the clinic during the academic year or over the summer holiday. Supervised by the Clinic's in-house solicitor as well as solicitors from high street and corporate/commercial law firms (e.g. Duncan Lewis and Farrer), students learn transferable skills such as effective communication and teamwork and see the law in a practical context. Through the Clinic students can also engage with third sector partners such as the Personal Support Unit at the Royal Courts of Justice or participate in its Mediation project or public legal education activity).
We have many highly active student-run societies as well as King's award-winning students’ union, KCLSU, who organises a wide variety of social, sporting and cultural activities.
The KCL Anglo-German Law Society aims to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between English and German law students, academics, professionals and universities. The network built is designated to support the members to learn, to understand and to practice in both legal systems. In particular, the Society‘s community gives its members the opportunity to make contacts in both Germany and England. The Anglo-German Law Society is represented at a growing number of English and German universities and regularly organizes lectures, workshops and pub nights for their members, and also offers exclusive internships at our partners‘ law firms.
Both the King’s College London Law Society and Bar & Mooting Society organise a number of social and career-oriented functions such as: internal and external mooting competitions; skills workshops; mock interview sessions; lecture series with prestigious barristers and other legal practitioners; as well as the Inaugural Welcome Party at the start of the academic year and the Annual Black-Tie Dinner. The KCL Law Society supports students who wish to pursue careers as solicitors while the Bar & Mooting Society help students understand the path to qualification as a barrister.
The Pro Bono Society supports and promotes legally-related volunteer work and education to the community, and runs many exciting projects, including the Amicus Chapter, Human Rights Project, Junior Lawyers Against Poverty; Law Mentoring; and Legal Outreach. Involvement with the society is a great way to contribute to the community as well as looking great on your CV due to the skills gained in the process.
There are various other societies within the Law School which students can get involved in, such as Lawyers Without Borders, King’s Women in the Law, Intellectual Property and Information Law Society and Criminology Society.