Law with German Law

Law with German law is a degree that combines a qualifying law education in England and Wales with in-depth study of a legal system that is fundamentally different in its structure, sources, and principles. English law is part of the common law tradition, built around case law and judicial precedent. German law belongs to the civil law tradition, codified in comprehensive statutes and drawing on Roman law principles that have shaped legal thinking across continental Europe and beyond.

Understanding both systems gives you a comparative legal education that is increasingly valuable in international legal practice.

At the University of Leeds, this four-year full-time degree develops your understanding of how and why law is created and changed and how it operates as a social institution, alongside expertise in analysis, research, and logical argument that a rigorous legal education provides. You will also develop your German language skills, and in your third year you will study law in Germany itself, engaging directly with a different legal culture and gaining the cross-jurisdictional experience that sets you apart in a competitive legal market. The typical entry tariff is 168 points.

Law with German law graduates are particularly well placed for careers in international commercial law, where transactions frequently cross between English and German legal systems. Careers in multinational law firms, European institutions, international arbitration, corporate legal departments, and the foreign office are all natural destinations. Many graduate to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam or Bar Professional Training Course.

The combination of common law training and civil law exposure is also valued in academic legal research and comparative law scholarship. Postgraduate study in law, European law, or international business law is a natural continuation.