Potential times that can be taken into consideration are the fifth and/or sixth semester. Another option is to go abroad after completing the area of focus. It is not possible to give a definitive answer about when it would be best to take part in an Erasmus programme. The stay abroad can be a welcome respite break before the period of studying your area of focus or taking the first state examination.

The stay abroad can extend over one semester or over an academic year. Moreover, it can be split over two locations. If you only go abroad for the fifth semester, you can then continue studying your area of focus without wasting time. Should you go abroad in the fifth and sixth semester you can restart in the next fifth semester.

Erasmus and/or LL.M.?

Should I go abroad whilst I am at university or should I complete an LL.M study programme after passing the state examination in the compulsory subject? Opinions differ on this question. There is no single answer that applies to everyone. However, you can be sure of one thing: these two options are not mutually exclusive. Quite the opposite: a course of ERASMUS studies can form the basis for preparing for a master’s degree later on. If you decide to go for both options, you will also have the opportunity to acquire subject-specific knowledge in more than one foreign language. You also need to take into account that after the exam stress of the first state examination and taking into consideration the upcoming two-year traineeship many law students ultimately decide against a postgraduate course. Then it is great if you have already clocked up a stay abroad during your time at university.