Bucerius Master of Law and Business (LLM/MLB) Bucerius Law School

Building bridges between disciplines and across cultures

An interdisciplinary, practice-oriented programme for talented young professionals from around the globe

The MLB prepares young professionals for international careers in which an understanding of both legal and business concepts as well as intercultural skills are essential. Unlike an LLM in Business /Commercial Law, the MLB programme links legal and management elements, combining the best of an MBA and an LLM. Business courses are taught by our co-operating partner WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Business, Germany's premier business school.

Aim of the programme

In today's global economy, lawyers and business people alike are regularly confronted with international issues that involve both legal and business aspects. The one-year curriculum of the Master of Law and Business (LLM/MLB) is designed exclusively for young professionals who strive to be at the forefront of these legal and business developments.

Graduates of the Master of Law and Business programme understand complex legal situations, grasp their economic dimensions, and perform effectively in an intercultural environment. They meet the increasing demands of corporations, law firms, and non-profit organisations for interdisciplinarily educated and internationally oriented young professionals.

A unique programme structure

The LLM/MLB curriculum is unique in its structure. Throughout the entire academic year, all modules relate to one overarching theme: the founding and development of a business enterprise, from both the business and the legal perspective. Thus, the curriculum follows the enterprise through various phases, including the founding of the enterprise, transforming the firm into a publicly-held enterprise, going international and merging with or acquiring another firm.

By using the development of an enterprise as its structural backbone, the programme creates synergies among its various modules. As a result, students study more efficiently and obtain a better overall understanding of the interrelationship between law and business.

An interdisciplinary approach

The programme links law and business within its individual modules. For example, the module examining the founding of an enterprise considers both entrepreneurship and the question of which legal form to use for the enterprise and how to finance the start-up company. Students analyse these topics not from the perspective of any one national system, but rather from a comparative perspective. This approach allows students to analyse various national approaches to the issues that arise in every business and legal culture. The MLB programme is one of the most international programmes in Germany.

Two degree options: LLM or MLB

The curriculum of the Master of Law and Business combines numerous aspects of international business law with issues of international business and management.

All students can study for the Master of Law and Business degree. Depending on the courses they complete, students with a first degree in law can obtain an LLM degree instead. All students in the programme study together, regardless of which degree they will eventually receive.

Structure of the academic year

The MLB programme consists of nine modules, each with five ECTS credits, totalling 50 hours of classroom instruction plus 100 hours of preparation and debriefing per module.

From August to December, students take the obligatory modules that are structured along the life-cycle of an enterprise. In January and February students can select at least two electives to deepen their knowledge in these specific fields.

The integrated internship takes place in March and April. Upon their return to campus, students take two more obligatory modules while they also write their Master's theses:

• Digitalisation and Dispute Resolution of an Enterprise
• Social Responsibility of an Enterprise

Academics

WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management

Participants complete an eight-week internship at an employer of their choice, such as a law firm, corporation or government office. The internship takes place in March and April. Through the internship, participants have the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and see the interface of law and business in practice. Because the internship takes place in the middle rather than at the end of the academic year, participants are able to bring the insights that they have gained from their experience to their summer semester classes. In addition, the internship provides participants with insights that may be useful for selecting the topic of their Master's thesis. All students are invited to take advantage of the assistance offered by the Career Office in procuring an internship.

• 31 March for applicants requiring a visa
• 15 May for applicants not requiring a visa

In order to qualify for admission, applicants must fulfil the following requirements: 

• A three- to four-year undergraduate degree*
• At least one to three years of post-graduate work experience
• Interest or experience in the field of commercial/business law and/or business
• Extracurricular engagements
• Excellent English language skills

Prior international experience is useful but not mandatory.

*The Bachelor's degree has to be valued at 240 ECTS (four years) or the equivalent. A degree from a programme in which 210 ECTS credits was earned can be considered if the applicant has at least two years of post-graduate work experience. A degree from a programme in which 180 ECTS was earned can be considered if the applicant has at least three to four years of relevant post-graduate work experience.

Admission & application

No semester contribution

Students should budget for at least 980 EUR per month in living expenses in Hamburg.

As the Master of Law and Business programme is very intensive, most participants do not have time to work in order to finance their stay while they are studying. However, many internships are paid by the company, law firm or organisation involved.

Bucerius Law School is committed to affordability and offers several merit-based as well as need-based scholarships for students of the Master of Law and Business. Examples of funding opportunities include Bucerius Global Scholarships (full tuition plus a living expense stipend) and partial tuition scholarships, the Deutschlandstipendium to support living expenses and early bird and early acceptance reductions. 

The Master of Law and Business has its own career adviser who supports students in their search for an internship placement and advises and guides them regarding the next step of their careers.

• Company presentations
• Company visits in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf
• Job fair
• Networking opportunities with students and alumni from Bucerius Law School and WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management

Career prospects

The Master of Law and Business has reserved a significant number of rooms in a modern, well-equipped and centrally-located student dormitory. In addition, the programme staff help students and their accompanying spouses or families to find suitable accommodation, including subletting rooms from or sharing apartments with Germans. Most students live within a 10- to 30-minute commute of the Bucerius Law School. Rent varies from 400 EUR to 800 EUR, depending on accommodation size and location.

About Bucerius Law School

In Germany, Bucerius Law School is the first choice of law students and law firms alike. Our academic community distinguishes itself by its courage to endeavour in new and innovative directions as well as its common goal of striving for unparalleled excellence in legal education.

What differentiates Bucerius Law School from other schools?

Bucerius Law School is the first private, non-profit law school in Germany. Established and funded by one of the country’s largest private foundations, the ZEIT-Stiftung, Bucerius Law School honours its namesake, Gerd Bucerius, by focusing on the importance of community service and responsibility for others in society. This visionary institution consistently ranks among the top law schools in Germany educating the best and brightest new legal minds today. Bucerius students excel on German state exams and go on to work with leading national and international law firms and corporations, governmental departments, and universities.

What does Bucerius Law School offer?

In the heart of Europe, Bucerius Law School connects the world — it offers the legal education, the practical experience, and the international network to set its students on a successful and fulfilling career path in today’s increasingly globalised world. Bucerius recognises the importance of an international education, cultivates an expansive international network of nearly 100 partner universities worldwide, and has its own representative office in the United States. Bucerius attracts renowned scholars and instructors from the best legal institutions in the world to lecture in its English-language summer programmes, the Master of Law and Business, and its international exchange programme.

What programmes are available for international students?

The Bucerius Master of Law and Business (LLM/MLB) in cooperation with WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management is a one-year programme that offers young professionals a combination of theory and practice in an intimate setting with a focus on individual attention and professional guidance.

Bucerius offers three intensive, three-week summer programmes to advanced students and young professionals in the fields: International Business Law, Licensing Transactions in Intellectual Property, and Legal Technology and Operations.

The one-semester international exchange programme compliments students’ studies at their home universities through not only corresponding coursework but also cultural immersion, historic tours, and travel opportunities.

Innovation in law

With innovation as a hallmark, Bucerius Law School continues to develop new programmes and services such as Bucerius Executive Education and Conference and Event Management. All Bucerius programmes are designed to help participants deepen their theoretical and practical knowledge, engage in debate with their international counterparts, and develop their professional networks.

Study in Germany's most beautiful city

Described by many as "Germany's most beautiful city", Hamburg combines a high quality of life with a strong economy and countless employment opportunities. Hamburg's success is due in no small part to having successfully united business and legal interests.

For centuries, Hamburg has been home to one of the largest ports in the world. In addition, strong media, publishing and aerospace companies — some 350,000 enterprises in all, from large stock companies to a thriving start-up scene — also call Hamburg home.

Similarly, Hamburg's legal and political culture has always been defined by its strength and independence. It is therefore not surprising that Hamburg is host to legal institutions of national and global significance, including trial and appeals courts, the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law, and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea.

From cultural activities to nightlife

As a metropolis of some two million people, Hamburg offers a wealth of cultural and shopping activities and a vibrant nightlife. From opera to classical music to the club scene (where the Beatles got their start), Hamburg offers more opportunities than students can possibly take advantage of during their studies.

Centrally located: The Bucerius campus

The beautiful Bucerius campus, which successfully combines both traditional and modern architecture, provides a peaceful haven in the middle of Hamburg, adjacent to Hamburg's main commercial district and shopping areas. Just a short walk away, the beautiful Inner and Outer Alster Lakes and their surrounding parks provide a perfect place for students to sail or relax. Public transport is located next to the campus, so students can easily take advantage of all that Hamburg has to offer.