If you’re planning on studying law in Europe, you’ll want to go to the best law school. A top-ranked school will offer you the in-depth and intensive teaching necessary plus offer connections and job opportunities so that you can start a successful career in the industry. But what are some of the best law schools in Europe?
We’ve delved into the rankings to show you which schools are the best at what they do. If you’re interested in studying in Germany, France, or the Netherlands, we’ve also had a look at the best law schools in these countries to help aid your decision.
The Best Law Schools in Europe
10. University of Amsterdam
One of the largest law faculties in the Netherlands, the University of Amsterdam (4.0 rating, 77 reviews) has 5,000 students and 450 staff members, meaning you’ll join a huge community of other aspiring law professionals. The school offer nine different Masters programmes in law, covering various aspects including financial law, tax law, and European Union law. In addition, all degree programmes are focused on experiential learning and research, so you’ll be ready for your career as soon as you’ve graduated.
The Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) programme at the University of Amsterdam is a challenging, but rewarding programme which enables students to pursue more than one discipline. It provides a holistic understanding of social sciences and teaches students how to interpret the socio-economic structures embedded in our society. Through PPLE students improve their interpersonal and organisational skills, which are applicable in any of the four disciplines (and other fields as well!). Aside from the rigorous academics, the programme is very international and gives lots of opportunities to socialise, join engaging clubs and associations and meet people from various cultures. Perhaps one downside of PPLE is that it limits the extent to which you can focus on a chosen discipline because even after choosing your specialisation you’ll have to learn all four disciplines. So, when applying, really consider whether you’re interested in all four areas of study or if you’d prefer to study only one!
9. Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London (4.1 rating, 125 reviews) has a speciality in commercial law and has a dedicated research centre for this niche. Aside from that, the faculty is also interested in the role of law in contemporary international society. They offer a wide range of LLM Master’s programs for those who want to get more in-depth knowledge about a specific area of law; courses include environmental law and technology law.
8. Leiden University
The oldest institution in the Netherlands, Leiden University (4.1 rating, 48 reviews) has developed a reputation for high-quality teaching and research over almost 500 years. Furthermore, their law faculty has trained some of the biggest names in the legal profession in Europe, including the country’s leaders. Their Master’s courses cover unique subjects like space law and digital technologies, but they also offer standard LLM courses for professionals who want to explore the world of international or European law.
7. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Panthéon-Sorbonne (4.2 rating, 27 reviews) is widely regarded as the seat of law studies in both Paris and the whole of France. Despite being closely linked with the prestigious Sorbonne and French study, the university has a global outlook. Its courses are focused on international applications of the law, while the university has 390 global partners so that students get insights from around the world.
6. University of Edinburgh
Routinely ranked as one of the best universities in the UK, the University of Edinburgh (4.5 rating, 65 reviews) has also built a reputation for its law teaching. In particular, Edinburgh Law School prides itself on its broad curriculum, with Master’s programmes covering everything from corporate law to medical law. The university also has a focus on real-world relevance, so your degree will be underpinned by real cases and research.
Both the university and student life/Edinburgh were really great. Really helpful and ambitious people, loads to learn in and outside of class. I would highly recommend doing a master’s degree at the University of Edinburgh.
5. King’s College London
Breaking into the top five best law schools in Europe is King’s College London (4.1 rating, 154 reviews), one of the oldest law schools in the UK. Students here have access to a huge range of law research at Maughan Library, and they offer a wide range of LLM Master’s courses across the breadth of law study. However, the university prioritises international thinking; you’ll find courses including international law and transnational law.
I have started LLM studies in September 2021 at KCL. Before the studies commenced I was curious aboıt specific subjects related to IP Law. When I searched for KCL’s curriculum I found out that offered subjects were related to my interest areas. I could find answers to the questions in my mind from high scale professionals and this is the best part of LLM studies for me. Besides academic life, London is a beautiful city to live in although slightly expensive compared to other UK cities.
If circumstances of covid would be different, I would like to spend more on campus and I am looking forward to compensating for this situation in the summertime.
4. University College London
Another London university in the top five is University College London – UCL (4.3 rating, 275 reviews) – and for good reason. Its law school teaches students with the help of student-led activities and competitions, enriching the experience and giving students real-world experience. Postgraduate students will study for a top-ranked LLM degree but can specialise in the learning process by choosing at least 60 credits from knowledge areas including corporate law, maritime law, and intellectual property law.
3. The London School of Economics and Political Science
Rounding out the top three is the London School of Economics and Political Science (4.0 rating, 289 reviews), another university that benefits from its location in the heart of London, close to the law courts and other important institutions. LSE has a large law department with 60 members of staff, each with a wealth of knowledge about specific areas in law, so you’ll learn from the best. Additionally, LSE has a wide range of specialisms in its LLM programme, so you can choose to further your knowledge in areas like European law and taxation law.
2. University of Cambridge
One of the best universities in the UK, the University of Cambridge (4.6 rating, 25 reviews) is also one of the best law schools in Europe. Its LLM degree only admits those with the highest-standard bachelor’s degrees, so you’ll be learning with some of the best candidates in Europe. There are also a huge number of modules available on the LLM, so you can personalise your degree to suit your future career. These include specialist modules like competition law and the law of armed conflict.
1. University of Oxford
So, here we have it – the best law school in Europe. The University of Oxford (4.5 rating, 69 reviews) is world-renowned for the quality of its teaching and its cultural significance. Its law school has taught some of the biggest names in the legal profession, and an undergraduate or postgraduate degree from this school will undoubtedly open doors in the future. In fact, the law school is one of the largest in the UK and offers prestigious courses including the Magister Juris (MJur), an intensive programme in civil law.
The Best Law Schools in Germany
1. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (4.0 rating, 10 reviews)
2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (4.0 rating, 6 reviews)
3. University of Heidelberg (4.2 rating, 6 reviews)
4. Freie Universität Berlin (4.0 rating, 8 reviews)
5. Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
The Best Law Schools in France
1. Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (4.2 rating, 27 reviews)
2. Sciences Po (4.2 rating, 26 reviews)
3. Sorbonne University (3.9 rating, 5 reviews)
4. Université PSL
5. Aix-Marseille University (3.4 rating, 5 reviews)
The Best Law Schools in the Netherlands
1. Leiden University (4.1 rating, 48 reviews)
2. University of Amsterdam (4.0 rating, 77 reviews)
3. Utrecht University (4.1 rating, 24 reviews)
4. Maastricht University (4.1 rating, 25 reviews)
5. Tilburg University (4.4 rating, 48 reviews)
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