The 20 Best Universities in Germany to Study Law in 2026

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich leads the ranking prepared by Impact Lawyers, followed by Humboldt University of Berlin and Heidelberg University.

How the ranking was compiled

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich tops the inaugural Impact Lawyers ranking of the best universities in Germany to study law. Humboldt University of Berlin takes second place, while Heidelberg University completes the top three.

The University of Hamburg and the Free University of Berlin rank fourth and fifth respectively. Cologne, Bucerius Law School, Goethe University Frankfurt, Münster and Freiburg complete the top ten.

The methodology has been adapted to the particular features of the German system. It would not be appropriate to apply directly to Germany the criteria used to rank universities in the United States, France or England.

In Germany, the principal route into the traditional legal professions is not structured around an American Juris Doctor or a British LLB. Those wishing to practise as lawyers, judges, public prosecutors or notaries normally study Rechtswissenschaft at university and complete the Erste Juristische Prüfung, commonly referred to as the First State Examination in Law.

Graduates then enter a period of practical legal training known as the Rechtsreferendariat. This normally lasts approximately two years and includes placements in courts, public prosecutors’ offices, public authorities and law firms.

Passing the Zweite Juristische Staatsprüfung, or Second State Examination in Law, gives candidates the status of Volljurist—a fully qualified German lawyer—and allows them to enter the regulated legal professions.

The quality of a German law faculty cannot therefore be assessed solely through its international reputation. The ranking must also consider preparation for the state examinations, programme organisation, student support, specialist fields, links with professional practice and the institution’s capacity to assist students throughout a lengthy and particularly demanding educational pathway.

The quantitative core of the ranking combines the law classifications published by Times Higher Education and QS World University Rankings, information from the CHE Hochschulranking 2026/2027 and employer reputation and graduate employability studies associated with WirtschaftsWoche.

The results were cross-checked against information published by the law faculties themselves and specialist sources covering German legal education.

Four different perspectives on excellence

Times Higher Education

Times Higher Education provides an international perspective focused on teaching quality, the research environment, research performance, institutional collaboration and international outlook. In its law classification, LMU Munich ranks first in Germany, followed by Humboldt.

QS World University Rankings

QS places particular emphasis on academic reputation, employer opinion and research influence. In its 2026 edition, Humboldt is the leading German institution, ranking 37th worldwide. LMU Munich is 42nd and Heidelberg is 49th.

WirtschaftsWoche

The WirtschaftsWoche ranking takes a different approach by asking corporate recruiters which universities they prefer to hire graduates from. Its results favour institutions with strong reputations among companies, law firms and in-house legal departments.

LMU and Humboldt perform particularly well, together with the Free University of Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt.

CHE Hochschulranking

The CHE Hochschulranking deliberately avoids producing a single linear table from best to worst. Instead, it evaluates universities across more than 20 separate indicators and assigns them to performance groups for each category.

These indicators include the overall study experience, support at the beginning of the programme, contact with teaching staff, organisation, facilities, research and preparation for the state examinations.

Bucerius Law School achieves one of the highest results for the overall study experience. Mannheim, Passau, Bayreuth, Münster, Osnabrück, Potsdam and EBS also perform strongly.

Combining these perspectives prevents the ranking from depending solely on research output or historical prestige. One institution may stand out internationally, another for student satisfaction and another for its connections with employers.

The Impact Lawyers methodology

The Impact Lawyers classification has been constructed around four principal areas:

• Academic reputation and national and international research influence.
• Teaching quality, student support and programme organisation.
• Preparation for the First State Examination and the diversity of specialist fields.
• Employability, professional connections and internationalisation.

The statistical assessment was supplemented by a qualitative review of the curricula and educational models of the selected institutions.

The analysis considered programme structure, compulsory subjects, specialist areas known as Schwerpunktbereiche, university preparation for the state examination, international programmes, dual degrees, mooting competitions, legal clinics, practical opportunities and collaboration with law firms, companies and institutions.

The qualitative review was not used to alter the results arbitrarily. Its purpose was to test their coherence and correct the distortions that would arise from relying on a single ranking.

This precaution is particularly important in Germany. Public universities prepare students for examinations regulated by each federal state, and the available statistics do not always make it possible to attribute results directly to a particular law faculty.

The First Legal Examination combines a state-administered component with a university specialist component. Examination models, available sittings and certain procedural rules also vary between the German Länder. It would therefore be methodologically unsound to compare automatically the pass rates of two universities located in different states.

LMU Munich: the strongest all-round performer

1. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU)

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich takes first place because of its consistency across the main indicators.

It is the leading German university in the Times Higher Education law ranking and ranks second nationally in QS. It has also topped employer surveys used by WirtschaftsWoche for several years.

Its law faculty offers comprehensive training in civil, criminal and public law, accompanied by numerous specialist areas. The strength of its academic community and research output reinforces its reputation in Germany and abroad.

Its location in Munich provides access to major law firms, international companies, public institutions and one of Germany’s principal legal and economic markets.

Its first-place position therefore reflects a balance of academic tradition, research, employer reputation, breadth of programmes and professional opportunities.

Humboldt: Germany’s highest-ranked institution in QS

2. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Humboldt University of Berlin takes second place. It is the leading German institution in the 2026 QS law ranking and ranks second nationally in Times Higher Education.

The faculty benefits from an extensive legal tradition and its location in Berlin, Germany’s political, institutional and legislative capital.

Students have access to federal ministries, courts, public bodies, law firms, professional associations, international organisations and institutions involved in research and public policy.

Humboldt is particularly strong in public, constitutional, European and international law, although its programme also covers the principal fields of private and criminal law.

Its educational model combines doctrinal rigour and research with close attention to the historical, European and comparative context of the legal system.

Heidelberg completes the top three

3. Universität Heidelberg

Heidelberg University takes third place. Its law faculty is one of the oldest and most prestigious in Germany and enjoys a strong reputation in German, European, international and comparative law.

QS ranks it as Germany’s third-best institution and 49th in the world for law. Times Higher Education also places it within the leading national group.

Its programme is characterised by a firm doctrinal foundation and an important research dimension. The university maintains international partnerships and offers opportunities for exchanges and specialisation in areas connected with European and transnational law.

Heidelberg represents one of the most traditional models of German legal education while combining that tradition with significant international reach.

Hamburg and the Free University of Berlin

4. Universität Hamburg

The University of Hamburg ranks fourth. It is one of Germany’s highest-placed institutions in both Times Higher Education and QS and is particularly strong in international, European, commercial, maritime and economic law.

Its location in one of Europe’s principal commercial and port cities creates an especially favourable environment for studying international trade, logistics, transport, insurance and maritime law.

The university also has a large research community and offers a diverse range of specialist fields.

5. Freie Universität Berlin

The Free University of Berlin takes fifth place. It performs particularly well in QS and employer surveys.

Its programme benefits from Berlin’s institutional environment and has a strong international orientation. The university offers opportunities in European, international, comparative, public and business law.

The presence of both Humboldt and the Free University among the top five confirms Berlin’s position as one of Germany’s leading centres for university legal education.

Cologne and the strength of its legal market

6. Universität zu Köln

The University of Cologne takes sixth place. Its law faculty is one of the largest and most recognised in the country and maintains a strong presence in academic and employer rankings.

Cologne stands out for the breadth of its programmes and its connections with one of Germany’s principal legal and economic markets. The city is home to major law firms, businesses, media companies, insurers and public institutions.

The university has an important tradition in business, tax, employment, European and competition law, in addition to covering the fundamental subjects required for the state examination.

Its combination of size, diversity, employer reputation and professional opportunities explains its position among the leading institutions.

Bucerius Law School: Germany’s leading private model

7. Bucerius Law School

Bucerius Law School takes seventh place and is the highest-ranked private institution.

Its educational model differs substantially from that of the large public universities. It offers smaller classes, intensive teaching, a highly structured programme and a strong professional and international orientation.

Bucerius achieves one of the strongest results in CHE assessments of the overall study experience. It has also ranked first in student-satisfaction surveys conducted by specialist legal publications.

The institution offers preparation for the state examination, training in economics and international subjects, study-abroad opportunities and close links with law firms and companies.

It does not rank higher because international tables focused on research volume and influence tend to favour much larger public universities. From the perspective of student experience, programme organisation and employability, however, Bucerius is one of Germany’s strongest institutions.

Frankfurt and business law

8. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

Goethe University Frankfurt takes eighth place. Its location in Germany’s principal financial centre has a decisive influence on its profile.

The university offers a particularly favourable environment for studying banking, finance, commercial, corporate, European and regulatory law.

Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank, the Bundesbank, financial institutions, major law firms and numerous international companies. This proximity facilitates connections between academic education and professional practice.

The university is among Germany’s leading institutions in Times Higher Education and performs strongly in employer surveys.

Münster and Freiburg complete the top ten

9. Universität Münster

The University of Münster ranks ninth. Its law faculty is one of the largest and most traditional in Germany.

Münster performs well in the CHE Hochschulranking, particularly in indicators related to the student experience. It also offers a broad range of specialist fields and substantial academic resources.

The city provides a strongly university-oriented environment and generally lower costs than Munich, Frankfurt or Hamburg.

10. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg

The University of Freiburg completes the top ten. Its law faculty combines academic tradition, research and a European and international outlook enhanced by its proximity to France and Switzerland.

Freiburg has particular historical significance in German legal thought and offers a strong education in the fundamental areas of law.

Mannheim: combining law and economics

11. Universität Mannheim

The University of Mannheim takes 11th place. Its programme is particularly notable for connecting law and economics.

The faculty offers a structured legal education that allows students to acquire business and economic knowledge alongside the subjects required for the state examination.

Mannheim achieves one of Germany’s strongest CHE results for the overall study experience. Its model is characterised by clear organisation, student support and a strong orientation towards business law.

This combination is especially attractive to students aspiring to work in major law firms, consultancies, businesses or regulated sectors.

Tübingen and Bonn

12. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen

The University of Tübingen ranks 12th. Its law faculty has a long tradition and stands out for its academic strength, university environment and research.

Tübingen provides a strong general legal education and offers specialist areas in private, public, criminal, international and European law.

13. Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

The University of Bonn takes 13th place. Its location facilitates links with federal institutions, international organisations and regulatory bodies that remain based in Germany’s former capital.

Bonn is particularly strong in public, international, European and economic law. Its proximity to Cologne further expands the professional opportunities available to students.

Passau and Bayreuth excel in the student experience

14. Universität Passau

The University of Passau takes 14th place. Its law faculty achieves excellent results in surveys covering student satisfaction, the overall study experience and student support.

Passau has developed a particularly international profile through legal language programmes, relationships with foreign universities and a strong focus on European and comparative law.

15. Universität Bayreuth

The University of Bayreuth ranks 15th. Its legal education benefits from close links with economics and complementary programmes in business-related subjects.

Bayreuth performs strongly in CHE assessments and student evaluations. Its size enables it to provide a more personalised experience than some large metropolitan universities.

Passau and Bayreuth demonstrate that teaching quality and programme organisation do not depend solely on international prestige or institutional size.

Göttingen, EBS, Düsseldorf, Erlangen-Nürnberg and Leipzig

16. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

The University of Göttingen takes 16th place. Its law faculty has a long academic tradition and offers a strong programme in the principal areas of law. It also maintains a recognised research community and a cohesive university environment.

17. EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht

EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht ranks 17th and is the second private institution in the classification. Its approach combines law, business, internationalisation and personalised teaching.

EBS performs well in assessments of the student experience and has close links with companies and law firms. As with Bucerius, its costs and private model must be considered alongside the advantages of its smaller size and professional orientation.

18. Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf takes 18th place. Its location in one of Germany’s leading economic regions provides access to businesses, law firms and institutions throughout North Rhine-Westphalia.

19. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg ranks 19th. Its programme combines a strong legal education with opportunities related to economics, technology and interdisciplinary research.

20. Universität Leipzig

Leipzig University completes the top 20. It has an important historical tradition and has strengthened its offering in German, European and international law.

The city also provides a cultural and university environment with generally lower costs than Germany’s major western and southern centres.

The importance of the state examinations

The ranking must be interpreted in light of the fact that, in Germany, the state examination grade is generally more important for a legal career than the name of the university attended.

The examinations are organised by the federal states and the state-administered papers are marked anonymously. This reduces the direct influence of a university’s brand on the result.

In 2024, approximately 36.7% of successful candidates in the First Legal Examination achieved a Prädikat, although there are significant differences between federal states and examination sittings.

A Prädikatsexamen—an examination result above the threshold traditionally regarded as particularly strong—continues to play a major role in access to the judiciary, public prosecution service, certain government positions, academic careers and leading commercial law firms.

The organisation of examination preparation, the availability of university revision courses, the quality of teaching materials and access to academic support may therefore matter more to individual students than a difference of a few places in a general ranking.

Public and private universities

Most of the German law faculties included in the ranking are public universities. Their tuition costs are relatively low, although students must pay semester contributions and cover accommodation and living expenses.

Bucerius Law School and EBS represent a different model. Both are private institutions and charge considerably higher tuition fees, although they offer financing arrangements, scholarships and income-linked repayment options.

Private institutions provide smaller classes, more structured programmes, personalised support and close professional connections. Public universities, by contrast, offer access to high-quality legal education at a much lower academic cost and generally provide a broader research environment.

The choice depends on the student’s profile, financial circumstances, preference for a more or less structured environment and the kind of university experience they are seeking.

No single university is perfect for every student

A university’s position in the ranking is a useful starting point, but it should not be the only factor considered.

Students should examine the available specialist areas, the organisation of state-examination preparation, class sizes, library resources, international programmes, practical opportunities and the cost of living in each city.

Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Düsseldorf provide access to major legal and business markets but have high accommodation costs.

University cities such as Heidelberg, Münster, Freiburg, Tübingen, Göttingen, Passau and Bayreuth may offer a more concentrated academic environment and comparatively lower expenses.

Students should also consider the federal state in which they will sit the examination, the rules governing the Freiversuch—the early examination attempt—the digitalisation of assessments and the availability of an integrated bachelor’s qualification before the state examination.

A broad and diverse legal education system

The principal conclusion is that Germany has a broad and diverse group of high-quality law faculties. LMU Munich, Humboldt and Heidelberg lead in academic reputation, research and international recognition.

Hamburg, the Free University of Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt provide particularly strong connections with Germany’s main professional markets. Bucerius, Mannheim, Passau and Bayreuth stand out for programme organisation and the assessments provided by their students.

By combining international rankings, national indicators, employer reputation and a review of institutional programmes, the Impact Lawyers classification provides a broader, more balanced and more useful overview of legal education in Germany.