The Bucerius Master of Law and Business is not just another law program. We offer a unique, practice oriented interdisciplinary degree that combines the study of law and business. Business classes are taught by professors from our co-operation partner, the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, one of Germany’s leading business schools.
Despite being located in a civil law country, the Master of Law and Business Program recognizes that internationally many transactions are structured under common law systems, which promise to be more flexible and adaptable to novel business situations. The Master of Law and Business Program therefore does not look solely at the law of one jurisdiction; rather it looks at typical solutions as exemplified in international instruments, e.g. the CISG or INCOTERMS; and compares national and international approaches.
The MLB Program prepares young professionals for international careers in which an understanding of both legal and business concepts as well as intercultural skills are essential. The student body has both law and business graduates with post-graduate work experience. MLB graduates belong to a still small group of professionals who have been systematically trained to take an interdisciplinary approach to legal and management questions.
The MLB Program follows a unique and innovative life cycle approach that examines the development of a business, from the inception of an entrepreneurial idea, over the founding of a company, its expansion, internationalization, resolution of disputes, to a possible merger, restructuring or winding up. Students analyze the issues arising at each of these stages from both a legal and business perspective.
Located in Hamburg, Germany, Bucerius Law school is a truly international school. Every year, our students come from over 20 different countries. All classes are taught in English by faculty members drawn from academia and practice. Hamburg is a very beautiful city that provides a safe and diverse environment to live in. From clean green spaces to a thriving cultural scene – Hamburg has it all.
The Master of Law and Business is a practice-oriented program. In addition to classes, students undertake a mandatory 2-month internship and are able to put into practice what they have been learning. The internship is a crucial element of the Program and helps students to develop professional networks and gain new perspectives on their careers and prospects.
As with most Master’s degrees, the Master of Law and Business comprises a master's thesis which students write towards the end of the Program under the supervision of a faculty member. Rather than just traditional academic research, MLB students may submit a business plan as a dissertation. This encourages entrepreneurial thinking and allows for a more practical piece of work to form part of the degree.
Being at Germany’s top law school does mean a lot of academic work, but also so much more. The MLB Program is enriched by a general studies course in which students learn about a range of other topics and have the opportunity to present their home countries to the class. There are study trips to Berlin and Düsseldorf, study competitions such as Law Without Walls and Comparative Law in Action. Students in the MLB Program also complete a social project to give them the chance to give back to society.
The Program duration is one year, but many students stay in Germany after graduation to gain work experience, improve their new skills and strengthen their new networks. The contacts made at Bucerius, the networks and the friendships remain valuable assets long after the program finishes.