Is the LL.B. Digital Law degree programme right for me?
What exactly is the LL.B. in Digital Law?
With the LL.B. in Digital Law, we offer an interdisciplinary bachelor’s degree programme that combines traditional legal studies with computer science, legal informatics and issues relating to digitalisation.
In the legal field, the programme focuses in particular on private law and public law. This is complemented by content from computer science and data science, as well as modules specifically tailored to the digitalisation of the law. Our aim is not to train fully-fledged computer scientists, but to equip you to link legal and technical issues and to collaborate effectively with technical experts.
Is Digital Law simply a ‘law degree with a bit of IT’?
No. The programme is broader in scope than traditional legal tech.
We explicitly view Digital Law as a field that goes beyond the mere technical support of legal work. It concerns, for example:
- legal issues surrounding algorithmic decision-making,
- the digitisation of public and private processes,
- big data and data science,
- databases,
- IT security,
- Legal tech,
- digital transformation,
- knowledge-based systems,
- societal impacts of digitalisation.
In short: Legal Tech is an important part of the degree programme, but Digital Law is a broader concept.
Who is this degree programme particularly suitable for?
Our degree programme is aimed at prospective students with an interest in both law and technology. It is therefore particularly well-suited to students who, for example:
- find law interesting but do not wish to undertakeatraditional state examination programme,
- are interested in AI, digitalisation and technology,
- enjoy interdisciplinary work,
- wish to understand the interplay between law and technology,
- would like to work at the interface between law, IT and digitalisation in the future.
The important thing to note is: you don’t need to be a computer science expert!
Do I need to know how to programme before I start the degree?
No, prior knowledge of computer science is an advantage, but not a requirement.
We do not train you to become computer scientists. Rather, the aim is for you to develop a sufficient level of technical understanding to be able to work later in interdisciplinary teams alongside computer scientists and other technical specialists.
If you have no interest in technical subjects, you should check whether the degree programme aligns with your interests and career goals.
Do I need any specific knowledge of maths or computer science?
No, there is no specific entry requirement in the form of a computer science or maths test.
However, during the course you will encounter technical topics such as data science, text mining, databases, IT security, web technologies and software development. Anyone who is prepared to familiarise themselves with these areas therefore does not need to have any prior technical knowledge.
What qualification do you receive?
Upon successful completion, the academic degree
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) is awarded, which is a first-cycle degree leading to professional qualification.
How long does the degree programme last?
The standard duration of study is six semesters.
A total of 180 ECTS credits are required to complete the degree. We therefore recommend an average of 30 ECTS credits per semester. According to the examination regulations, one ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of approximately 25 to 30 hours, including contact hours and independent study.
Is there a restriction on admissions to the programme?
No, thereis no admission quota.
We operate the programme on an open-admission basis. If you hold a German general university entrance qualification, you therefore do not generally need to apply for a place; enrolment takes place in accordance with the guidelines of the Student Registry.
What university entrance qualification do I need?
You will need one of the following:
- a general university entrance qualification,
- a subject-specific university entrance qualification,
- an equivalent foreign qualification for entry to higher education, or
- other university entrance qualifications provided for by law.
Anyone who has not obtained their university entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution must provide evidence of sufficient proficiency in German. The examination regulations specify, for example, the DSH with a minimum grade of DSH-3.
When can I start my degree?
The LL.B. Digital Law programme normally begins in the winter semester.
The standard start date for the winter semester is 1 October.
There is a special provision for students changing career paths: those who have already completed relevant coursework from another degree programme and can have this recognised may, under certain circumstances, also be able to join the programme in the summer semester.
What is the degree programme like?
What legal topics are covered?
The programme provides a comparatively broad grounding in law.
The examination regulations provide for the following law modules (123 out of 180 ECTS):
| Module | ECTS |
| Introduction to Private Law | 28 |
| Introduction to Public Law | 20 |
| Advanced Private Law I | 20 |
| Advanced Private Law II | 6 |
| Advanced Public Law | 17 |
| Private Digital Law | 16 |
| Public Digital Law | 16 |
In addition, students take the modules ‘Computer Science for Lawyers I, II and III’ (totalling 43 ECTS) and, finally, the follow-up module comprising the Bachelor’s thesis (14 ECTS).
What computer science topics are actually covered?
Technical training forms an essential part of the degree programme.
The content includes, amongst other things:
- Introduction to Computer Science,
- Software development and programming,
- web technologies,
- data science,
- text mining,
- Databases,
- knowledge-based systems,
- IT security,
- Legal tech,
- digital transformation.
The technical component is therefore not merely an optional subject, but an essential part of the curriculum.
Do you actually learn to programme?
Yes, at least the basics of software development and programming are part of the programme.
However, you should not confuse this degree programme with a Bachelor’s in Computer Science. Our aim is specifically to produce legally trained individuals with a sufficient understanding of technology – not fully-fledged software developers.
To what extent is the programme focused on law?
It has a distinctly legal focus.
The first five modules alone deal with private law and public law. Added to these are Private Digital Law and Public Digital Law. We view the programme as a legal education that is supplemented and expanded by computer science and digital law content.
You should therefore not view it as either a ‘computer science degree for lawyers’ or a ‘traditional law degree with a few IT modules’.
What does the course structure look like, roughly speaking?
Broadly speaking, the course can be divided into three phases:
1. Initial phase:
Fundamentals of private law and public law, as well as an introduction to computer science, software development and programming.
2. Middle phase:
In-depth study of private law and public law, as well as continued training in legal informatics, including data science, big data and database systems.
3. Final phase:
Private Digital Law, Public Digital Law and preparation for the Bachelor’s thesis.
The specific timetable is subject to change; the current module catalogue is authoritative in each case.
What services do I need to provide, and when?
What types of examination are there?
There are various types of examination, in particular:
- written examinations,
- assignments,
- seminar papers,
- oral examinations,
- Bachelor’s thesis.
Do you have to pass each course individually?
Not necessarily in the sense that every single course must constitute a separate module examination.
The degree programme has a modular structure. The individual modules comprise specific courses and academic or examination requirements. The key requirement is that the prescribed requirements for each module are successfully met.
How do I register for examinations?
Exam registration is generally carried out via FlexNow.
Separate registration is required for coursework and examinations. Students should therefore ensure they observe the relevant registration deadlines.
What happens if I fail an exam?
The examination regulations contain specific rules regarding retakes.
Under the current regulations, a failed module examination must generally be retaken within six months, and no later than the following semester. A second retake is generally only permitted once during the entire course of study. Coursework, on the other hand, may generally be retaken multiple times.
Is there a minimum requirement for the first semesters?
Yes. By the end of the second semester, you must have earned at least 40 ECTS credits. If you do not achieve this, we recommend that you contact the academic advisory service immediately.
This is not a traditional ‘interim examination’ as in state examination degree programmes, but a formal review of your academic progress.
How much time do I actually have to complete my degree?
The standard duration of study is six semesters, but the examination regulations also set a deadline:
Anyone who has not earned the required 180 ECTS by the end of the eighth semester is, in principle, deemed to have failed the Bachelor’s examination on their first attempt, unless an extension is granted for reasons beyond the student’s control.
In practical terms, this means: six semesters constitute the standard duration of study, whilst eight semesters play a key role in relation to the examination deadline.
What do you need to bear in mind when writing a Bachelor’s thesis?
When can I register for my Bachelor’s thesis?
The examination regulations stipulate the following requirements for admission to the Bachelor’s thesis:
- at least 130 ECTS credits,
- current enrolment at the University of Regensburg.
The application for admission and topic allocation must be submitted by 31 May for the summer semester and by 30 November for the winter semester.
How long is the Bachelor’s thesis?
The Bachelor’s thesis forms part of the final module DIGLAW 11.
The examination regulations specify a completion period of four weeks from the date the topic is allocated and a length of 50,000 characters. The final module comprises a total of 14 ECTS credits.
The Bachelor’s thesis is therefore relatively concentrated in terms of time.
Can the Bachelor’s thesis cover a technical topic?
In principle, the programme is specifically geared towards interdisciplinary topics at the intersection of law and digitalisation.
The examination regulations stipulate that the final module comprises a seminar and the Bachelor’s thesis; in accordance with the examination regulations, certain academic staff are eligible to set the topics.
We therefore recommend that you agree on the specific topic at an early stage with a suitable supervisor.
Should I do an internship and/or plan to spend a semester abroad?
Is an internship compulsory?
No. The LL.B. Digital Law programme does not includea compulsory work placement. However, a voluntary work placement is possible and can be particularly useful for career guidance.
Particularly in an interdisciplinary degree programme, practical experience – for example, in a law firm, a company, a government department, a legal tech firm or in the field of data protection/compliance – can be extremely valuable.
Can I spend a semester abroad?
Yes. The examination regulations expressly recommend that any planned period of study abroad should preferably take place in the third or fourth semester.
When making concrete plans, you should check at an early stage which modules completed abroad can be recognised later on.
How does this programme compare to a traditional law degree, and what career prospects will I have after I graduate?
Is the LL.B. in Digital Law a substitute for a law degree leading to the state examination?
No – at least not if the aim is to pursue a traditional legal career such as a solicitor, judge or prosecutor.
Please note that the LL.B. in Digital Law does not provide access to traditional legal professions, for which the Second State Examination is generally required.
This distinction is particularly important when choosing a degree programme.
Can I become a solicitor with the LL.B.?
Not on the basis of the LL.B. in Digital Law alone.
The LL.B. is a bachelor’s degree and does not replace the traditional legal training involving the First State Examination followed by a period of legal training and the Second State Examination.
Anyone expressly seeking traditional admission to a regulated legal profession should therefore choose a course leading to the State Examination or complete the relevant training pathway.
Can I still work in a law firm with an LL.B.?
Yes. The LL.B. may, for example, be of interest for roles that combine legal and technical skills. Potential fields of work include, in particular, law firms, companies, public authorities and associations.
Roles relating to
- legal tech,
- the digitisation of legal processes,
- data protection,
- compliance,
- AI,
- Contract automation,
- Data management,
- IT governance
are all interrelated.
What careers can I pursue with an LL.B. in Digital Law?
We envisage a wide range of potential career paths.
These include, amongst others:
Law firms
- Legal tech,
- digitisation of legal work processes,
- legal knowledge systems.
Companies
- Digital law,
- Compliance,
- Data protection,
- IT/digitalisation projects,
- legal support for digital business models.
Regulatory bodies and public administration
- Digitalisation,
- e-government,
- regulation of digital markets,
- Ministries and public bodies.
Start-ups
- Legal tech,
- AI,
- Big Data,
- interactive systems,
- crypto infrastructures.
Is this degree useful in the job market?
Whether this degree is particularly useful for your career goals depends on the role you are aiming for.
The degree is particularly attractive if you are aiming not just for traditional legal work, but for roles at the intersection of law and technology.
We see particular career opportunities in digitally driven legal and business sectors and consider the combination of the LL.B. in Digital Law and the state examination programme to be particularly promising.
Is it possible to do a Master’s degree after the LL.B.?
In principle, a Bachelor’s degree can form the basis for further study. However, which specific Master’s programmes are accessible depends on the respective entry requirements of the Master’s programme in question.
Therefore, please do not automatically assume that every law LL.M. programme is immediately open to you. For a specific Master’s programme, its admission regulations must be checked.
Dual degree programmes and credit transfer
Recognition of credits
Is it possible to have credits transferred?
Yes, the general rules on the recognition of credits apply in the first instance. You will find the relevant provision in Section 12 of the LL.B. Digital Law examination regulations. Grades from a law degree are recognised in accordance with the applicable conversion scale.
How does credit for prior learning work?
You must submit a written application for credit transfer to the Law Examination Office. Please use the specific forms for the LL.B., which can be found here. Students at the University of Regensburg who have already completed modules as part of the State Examination programme may use a specific form and do not need to submit proof of academic achievement in advance. Students wishing to apply for credit transfer from other degree programmes or other higher education institutions must first submit the form to the Law Programme Co-ordination Office and, if the DigLaw 08–10 modules are involved, to the module coordinator for confirmation.
When should the application be submitted?
The application for credit transfer for previous academic achievements and examination results may only be submitted once, and must be done within the first semester following enrolment at the University of Regensburg. An application can therefore only be made after enrolment.
When is credit transfer excluded?
Once you have sat the examination to be replaced, credit transfer is no longer possible.
Who can provide information on eligibility for credit transfer?
The Law Programme Coordination Office will be happy to assist you with this. If required, the application can be completed together during a face-to-face consultation. Prior to enrolment, only a non-binding assessment is possible. In all cases, a current overview of your previous academic achievements and examination results must be submitted.
Dual degree programme
Can the LL.B. also be completed alongside a law degree?
Of course! Upon application, the Student Office will also enrol you as part of a dual degree programme (external link, opens in a new window). You will then be enrolled in both degree programmes simultaneously and study them in parallel. Both degree programmes remain legally separate.
How do you apply for a dual degree programme?
When enrolling as a first-year student or whilst currently studying law, you can submit an enrolment application for a ‘change of programme/dual degree’ via the student portal during the re-registration (external link, opens in a new window) period or during the enrolment (external link, opens in a new window) dates for the relevant semester.
How does exam registration work in a dual degree programme?
Students on a dual degree programme must also register for examinations twice. Results are entered separately by the secretariats in FlexNow. An application for credit transfer is not required.
What else should be borne in mind?
As the degree programmes remain legally separate, the LL.B. is regarded as the first degree if it is completed before the state examination. The law degree then becomes a second degree, which may have implications for matters such as child benefit, BaföG, health insurance and other issues. Please ensure you find out about this in good time!