About us

What is the Hanse Law School?

The Hanse Law School is an internationally oriented legal education programme. It is run by the University of Oldenburg. Its close partner is the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

The Concept

The fundamental idea behind the HLS is to ‘think law in a European way’: it is about approaching Europe ‘from the bottom up’. The programme combines European law and comparative law – right from the very first semester. This sets the Hanse Law School programme apart from both national law degrees and other programmes that train lawyers in European law, both in Germany and abroad. In Germany, this is its unique selling point amongst undergraduate law programmes. The Hanse Law School Master’s programme builds on this fundamental knowledge of European law and delves deeper into the specialist areas of digital law and sustainability.

The ‘Comparative and European Law’ Bachelor’s programme

The HLS Bachelor’s programme (LL.B.) places different emphases in terms of content compared to other (foreign) European law programmes: Unlike, for example, the College of Europe in Bruges (Belgium), the HLS programme does not focus on the harmonisation and standardisation of EU law. At the Hanse Law School, national legal systems and legal cultures continue to play a major role: the aim is to understand differences and to foster international friendship. For this reason, comparative law is given high methodological priority. From this perspective of a ‘Europe from below’, the HLS builds on the ideas of Franco-German friendship and town twinning. The motto ‘fortiter in re, suaviter in modo’ also refers to this fundamental idea of mutual understanding through discourse. The co-founder of the HLS, Prof. Dr Damiaan Meuwissen, Emeritus Professor of Constitutional Law and Legal Philosophy at the University of Groningen, was thereby drawing on the guiding principle of Claudio Aquaviva, under whose leadership the Enlightenment-inspired reform of Jesuit education was successfully implemented in 1599.

The Master’s programme ‘Law in Sustainable and Digital Europe’

The HLS Master’s programme ‘Law in Sustainable and Digital Europe’ focuses on aspects of sustainability and the digitalisation of national and European law. It is academically oriented and leads to the award of an LL.M. (Master of Laws). This degree is comparable to law degrees awarded by universities abroad. It qualifies graduates for the international legal market in public authorities, organisations, companies and law firms. However, it does not directly lead to a legal traineeship and thus to the judicial professions of the bench, the bar or the public prosecution service. This path is, however, open through extensive recognition of the academic achievements and a limited period of further study.

research

European law and comparative law play a fundamental role in the research programme of the chairs affiliated with the Hanse Law School. One example is the long-term project ‘Boundaries of Information Property’ by Prof. Dr Godt, which she carried out under the umbrella of the ‘Common Core of European Private Law’ and whose findings she published together with the Belgian Prof. Dr Geertrui van Overwalle (KU Leuven), the Canadian Prof. Dr Lucie Guibault (formerly IVIR Amsterdam, since 2015 at Dalhousie, Canada) and the British Prof. Dr Deryck Beyleveld in the volume of the same name in 2022, published by the renowned Intersentia Verlag (ISBN 978-1-83970-230-3). The study covers 16 jurisdictions. To read about current research projects by Prof. Dr Godt, click <HERE>; by Dr Chege, <HERE>; by Prof. Dr Rott, <HERE>; and by Prof. Dr Glinski, <HERE>,

Regional roots: Hanse Law School Advisory Board

Another distinctive feature sets the Hanse Law School apart: its close ties to the region, which are institutionalised through the HLS Advisory Board. The long-standing Chair is Bernd Seifert, Managing Director of the Oldenburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK), responsible for the Legal and Tax Department. This committee advises the Hanse Law School on practical matters: it provides input on the academic focus of the HLS and its public image; it offers support for events and third-party funding initiatives; it arranges lecturers and supports interns and graduates. Other members include Christoph Kolpatzik (legal adviser at EWE), Franz Nieder (solicitor), Anke van der Hove (President of the Higher Regional Court of Oldenburg), Karlheinz Heidemeyer (formerly of the Bremen Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Imke Nassiri (legal adviser and contract manager at Skyborn Renewables, graduate of Hanse Law School).

Graduates of Hanse Law School

Many career paths are open to Hanse Law School graduates. Thanks to the school’s international profile, many graduates find direct employment in (national) companies with international operations, international companies and business associations. Hanse Law School graduates are employed at the European Parliament, the European Commission, in federal ministries and the diplomatic service, at state authorities, in specialist large law firms and in international organisations. Many also go on to pursue academic careers. Those who, during their studies, decide to pursue a ‘traditional’ career path (solicitor, judge, public prosecutor) can easily transfer to the State Examination programme.

Chair of European and International Commercial Law and Civil Law at the University of Oldenburg (Jean Monnet professorship)