Bucerius Law School: Mandatory advice for law students from 2026!

Bucerius Law School: Mandatory advice for law students from 2026!

The Bucerius Law School in Hamburg brings a breath of fresh air to law studies: From the winter semester of 2026/27, it will be compulsory for all law students to work in so-called law clinics. University President Michael Grünberg described the new concept as the “law studies of tomorrow”. This reform takes the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical application to a new level.

Students are given free advice to people in need in the law clinics under the expert supervision of experienced lawyers. Not only is this a valuable practical experience, but it also contributes to social justice. Since its founding in 2012, the Hamburg Law Clinic has looked after 200 to 300 people seeking advice every year, with the cooperation with Refugee Law Clinics in Kiel and Hamburg in the area of deportation detention law being particularly outstanding hamburg.t-online.de reports.

Access to justice for everyone

The Law Clinic was not just founded for academic reasons. During an internship at the integration center, a student discovered that clients are often confronted with barriers that make it impossible for them to access legal support. Language barriers, psychosocial problems and the fear of high legal fees are common obstacles that prevent many from exercising their rights. The commitment of the Bucerius Law School and Diakonie Hamburg in this area is intended to overcome these hurdles and offer people in need a real perspective, as further explained in law-school.de.

In total, there are now around 90 law clinics in Germany, which have been established since 2008, primarily in response to the increased need for advice from refugees. The need for legal support continues unabated, and as mentioned, the Hamburg Law Clinic is now used by over 20 diaconal counseling centers.

A look at practice

Anyone wondering what practical work looks like in such an institution can imagine the following: After those seeking advice arrive at the advice center, equipped with legal texts, their concerns are recorded and checked for plausibility. Advice is limited to simple information and those seeking advice are referred to experts for more in-depth legal questions. Topics covered in the consultation include immigration law, the inheritability of debts and claims for damages after traffic accidents. Many people seeking advice bring with them current Hartz IV or pension notices of need, which further underlines the need for clear, understandable information. A report from anwaltsblatt.anwaltverein.de highlights that those seeking advice often wait patiently for advice and also communicate in comprehensible German.

Bucerius Law School's commitment to social justice and the practical training of its students could set the tone for other universities. David Mutschler from the umbrella organization of student legal advice sees great potential in the concept, but expresses concerns about how the model can be expanded to other universities. The compulsory integration of privileged students with disadvantaged people could ensure that a conversation about equal opportunities does not remain just theory.

The dogs are ringing and Bucerius Law School is taking a big step towards future-oriented education and social responsibility.