Master of Laws

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An LL.M. (lat. Legum Magister / Magistra , teacher / teacher of rights ; the doubling of the consonant "L" refers to the fact that the plural is abbreviated, see plural in. Jura , instead of the singular Jus) is a legal postgraduate Accounts, both of Lawyers who have already completed a law degree, as well as graduates from other university disciplines at universities and collegescan be obtained. Most often the academic degree LL.M. acquired at universities in English-speaking countries. In Germany the abbreviation LL.M. Synonymous for the Latin (Legum Magister) as the English (Master of Laws) long form of the university degree. The academic degree LL.M. can be listed next to the existing academic degree from the previous degree.

An LL.M. degree usually lasts two to four semesters. The content is determined by the offer of the university and the inclinations of the student. At universities outside the German-speaking area, the focus is usually on the respective national law, comparative law or international law. At universities in the German-speaking area, specialization in a certain area of ​​law is usually offered.

The degree is listed after the surname; in the following, the name of the awarding university (mostly in the Anglo-American language area) or the specific content of the course such as “(EuR)” or “(Tax)” can be given in brackets. In the case of foreign academic degrees that have not been awarded in the European Union or in the European Economic Area , it is mandatory in Germany to specify the awarding body.

LL.M. in Austria

Since the 2006/2007 winter semester, the Vienna University of Economics and Business has been offering a degree in business law , which, in accordance with the Bologna Process, leads to the academic degree Bachelor of Laws ("LL.B.") after six semesters and the Master of Laws (LL.M.) can be completed. The combination of LL.B. and LL.M. entitled to practice any traditional legal profession. Such an LL.M. is equal to the "Magister derrechte" ("Mag. iur."). The dropout rate in business law studies can be described as very high.

Since 2016, it has also been possible to study for a bachelor's degree at the Sigmund Freud University - the cost is 8,000 euros per semester.

In addition, the University of Klagenfurt, in cooperation with the University of Vienna, has been offering a master’s degree in commercial law with the academic title LL.M. since the 2019 winter semester. on. The completion of the master’s degree entitles the holder to practice all traditional legal professions.

LL.M. in Germany

In the Federal Republic of Germany, when you pass your first legal examination (known as the first state legal examination until 2003 ) , you usually end your studies . A specialization takes place here only in the university part of the examination or in postgraduate courses (for example licensing courses such as that of canon law , which leads to the academic degree Lic. Iur. Can. ). After completing the 1st and / or 2nd legal examination (i.e. after completing the first degree), there is the possibility of undertaking a more in-depth subject specialization and the academic degree of a "Legum Magister" or "Master of Laws" as part of a postgraduate course “(LL.M.) in this second degree. Some postgraduate courses with corresponding specialization options have been set up in the field of business law , European law ( LL.M. Eur. ) And in interdisciplinary areas such as mediation and conflict management . In addition, various specific master’s programs have been offered for several years, some with strong business management references.

For some LL.M. courses, passing the first state law examination is sufficient as an admission requirement. In most cases, however, certain qualifying requirements must be met for admission (similar to a doctorate), such as B. A first state examination in law or a comparable achievement passed with at least the grade “ fully satisfactory ” or “satisfactory”.

As part of the Bologna process , the state examinations and diploma degrees are to be replaced by the bachelor's and master's degrees customary in Anglo-Saxon countries. In 2002, an amendment to the HRG gave universities the opportunity to switch to Bachelor / Master courses. The Conference of Ministers of Education and the Interior Ministers have decided to recognize the master’s degrees obtained at universities and technical colleges as access authorization for the higher service .

The benefit of switching to the consecutive Bachelor and Master degrees in legal education is, however, controversial. In the coalition agreement of 2005 between the CDU, CSU and SPD parties at the federal level, the need for new degrees in legal training and the transfer of the Bologna Process to these were rejected. That is why only a few universities have switched their courses to consecutive Bachelor / Master courses. In terms of content, it is mostly about the business law course , which has a different training profile and did not previously train as a fully qualified lawyer .

LL.M. in Switzerland

In Switzerland , according to the new Bologna study model, the Master's degree based on the Bachelor of Law is called "MLaw" (Master of Law). The former degree lic. iur. is considered to be equivalent to an MLaw, in application of a resolution of the Swiss University Conference of December 1, 2005. For entry in the bar register, the bar license, which is a prerequisite for the MLaw, is required. The LL.M. In contrast, the Swiss universities have so far only awarded special training for in-depth academic work in a focus area. What is the difference between an MLaw and an LL.M. is not entirely clear, especially since the MLaw, due to the Bologna model, is actually the Anglo-Saxon LL.M. corresponds.

This distinction probably stems from the time when the first possible legal degree in Switzerland was the lic. iur. and not as the Bachelor of Law already was today and thus in all cases an LL.M., mostly completed at a foreign university, only after obtaining the degree lic. iur. was possible.

In practice, a distinction between LL.M. and MLaw problems arise when it comes to the admission of foreign students with a Bachelor of Law to an LL.M. Program in Switzerland, which in the event of non-admission to a loss of attractiveness of the Swiss LL.M. Programs lead or, in the case of admission, to unequal treatment of Swiss students, if these only occur after they have obtained an MLaw for a Swiss LL.M. Program to be approved. Conversely, graduates from Swiss universities could be disadvantaged on the international job market if they receive the MLaw degree after five years of study, while abroad at this level the LL.M. is awarded. It is therefore conceivable that with increasing experience with the Bologna model this distinction between MLaw and LL.M. is abandoned. This would also correspond to the actual Bologna system: the general degree is awarded with the Bachelor of Law (BLaw) and the specialization for selected and highly qualified students takes place in a master’s program. An LL.M. from a foreign university However, the degree will probably retain its value as evidence of international experience and knowledge of a foreign legal system.

Maîtrise en droit (France)

It is true that the titles obtained by studying law at the French university are known as "Maîtrise en droit" (or as the title "Maître en droit") and, since the Bologna reform, also as "Master 1" (four-year course) and "Master 2" (five-year course). However, as a Magister iuris , these are not compatible with the LL.M. Equal to, but as the completion of the university part of the legal education with the 1st state examination in Germany and the US-American Juris Doctor (JD) comparable. An LL.M. in France, as well as in Germany and the USA, is only taken after completing a law degree.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Leaflet from the Bavarian Ministry of Science ( Memento from November 11, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ WU (Vienna University of Economics and Business). Retrieved February 18, 2020 (Austrian German).
  3. ^ RIS - Lawyers' Act - Consolidated Federal Law, version dated February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020 .
  4. Martin Unger, Angela Wroblewski: Early drop-outs at universities in Austria . In: bmwf.gv.at . ( academia.edu [accessed February 18, 2020]).
  5. ^ Sigmund Freud University. Retrieved February 18, 2020 .
  6. Accreditation procedure at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster. In: Website of the Catholic Theological Faculty of the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster. October 4, 2018, accessed October 4, 2018 .
  7. Felix Wendenburg et al .: Master's degree in Mediation and Conflict Management (M. A./LL. M.). In: https://www.rewi.europa-uni.de/de/studium/master/mediation/index.html . Faculty of Law at the Viadrina European University in Frankfurt / Oder, October 2, 2018, accessed on October 2, 2018 .
  8. Master's degree in Mediation. In: Website of the Humboldt University of Berlin. Faculty of Law, Research Institute for Legal Law, October 2, 2018, accessed October 2, 2018 .
  9. For example, when you are admitted to the LL. M. degree in European and International Business Law at the University of Frankfurt am Main.
  10. For example, when you are admitted to the LL. M. degree in business law & restructuring at the University of Münster.
  11. Permanent conference of the interior ministers and senators of the federal states & permanent conference of the cultural ministers of the federal states in the Federal Republic of Germany: Agreement on "Access to careers in the higher service through a master's degree at universities of applied sciences" Resolution of the Conference of Interior Ministers of December 7, 2007 and the Conference of Ministers of Education of September 20, 2007 .
  12. ^ Coalition Agreement 2005, p. 145 ( Memento from August 31, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
  13. Art. 7 BGFA .