Standard duration of study
6 semesters / 180 ECTS
Conclusion
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Start of studies
Always in the winter term
(Students changing career paths who have already achieved recognised academic results, including those joining in the summer term)
Allocation of places
no admission restrictions
Structure and course content
The programme is divided into eleven modules comprising courses in law and computer science.
The LL.B. in Digital Law is aimed at students with an interest in both law and technology. It does not provide access to traditional legal careers. These usually require the Second State Examination. Those who have successfully completed both the LL.B. Digital Law and the programme leading to the State Examination have excellent career prospects. It is possible to undertake such a dual degree programme. Prior knowledge of computer science is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The aim is not to turn students into computer scientists. Rather, the aim is to improve their ability to engage in dialogue when graduates later need to collaborate across disciplines and apply technical knowledge in legal processes.
The course structure includes introductions to private law and public law in the first two semesters, which would also need to be taken as part of the state examination programme in law. In addition, there are introductory modules on computer science, software development and programming. Lectures on the ‘digitalisation of law’ and ‘logic for lawyers’ round off the programme.
In the middle phase of the programme, advanced lectures in private law and public law are scheduled, which are also part of the state examination programme in law. Furthermore, training in legal informatics continues. The focus is on teaching the fundamental concepts of data science and big data. Through practical exercises, students learn about the architecture and potential applications of knowledge-based systems in the legal field. The use of database systems is also explained.
In the final semesters, specialised lectures are offered in the modules ‘Public Digital Law’ and ‘Private Digital Law’, which prepare students for writing their Bachelor’s thesis.
Career prospects
Graduates of the Digital Law degree programme can find employment in virtually all legal and business sectors. At first glance, this applies to those sectors where there is a need for improved software-based support for legal processes: in law firms, but also in companies, public authorities and associations. It is also conceivable that graduates might support start-ups that are developing or improving technical processes for the further digitalisation of the law (big data, artificial intelligence, interactive systems and visual computing, cryptographic infrastructures). Furthermore, employment opportunities exist in all sectors where the ‘digital revolution’ poses complex challenges for legal management, whether in digital companies or in the public sector, for example in the relevant ministries.
The best career prospects are available to those with dual qualifications, i.e. those who have completed both the LLB in Digital Law and the state examination programme.
