Founded by the ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, Bucerius Law School is a private law school that strives to reform German legal education and aspires to represent the German legal community in the international discourse. In keeping with the views of our benefactor, Gerd Bucerius, the aim of the Law School is to educate outstanding individuals, who are willing to place their expertise at the disposal of society and accept responsibility for others. Bucerius is an academic community of students and faculty that are engaged in constructive-critical thought. It is in this atmosphere that a sense of public spirit is generated. Furthermore, creativity and leadership skills are fostered in combination with team spirit and tolerance. Based on the tried and tested standards of the German legal education, Bucerius Law School wants to realize the possible education. In its desire to achieve this aim, Bucerius is aware of its responsibility to assist the harmonization process of the courses of study within Europe.
The students at Bucerius Law School are open-minded young people, and welcome constructive criticism. They develop their talents and abilities in an astute and determined manner. A characteristic of the academic program at Bucerius Law School is the personal and academic exchange that takes place between faculty and students and the close collaboration between them as well. Over the years, a tight and long-lasting bond between the students, graduates and the Law School has developed.
The course of studies merges the needs of the practicing legal community with an academic pervasion of the law. It is based on the unity between teaching and research. This is evident not only in the dovetailing of the main research areas and teaching contents, but also in the inspiration passed on to faculty from students during academic discussions. The faculty is able to incorporate ideas from such interaction into their research. Much emphasis is placed on the dialogue with the practicing community, the legal foundation courses, the knowledge of foreign legal systems and international discourse, the Studium generale and solid training in business and economics. The international orientation is a distinct aspect of the course of studies and its teaching. This focus is apparent in the establishment of the mandatory study abroad program for our students, the creation of a campus where students from our partner universities all over the world are welcomed, our graduate programs as well as the organization of summer schools and additional programs abroad. The institution offers a range of social activities, from the fine arts, culture, and sports to other areas of society. It is through these activities that student initiatives enrich university life.
Bucerius Law School respects and promotes the free and independent research of the faculty and staff. They all appreciate the intradisciplinary cooperation at Bucerius Law School and are open to the exchange of ideas. The Law School offers them the freedom to develop their thoughts that are then further pursued by the university community. Using its network of renowned partner universities, Bucerius Law School supports the exchange of academic ideas at an international level thereby creating a platform to support world-wide research contacts.
The professors view the personal mentorship and intellectual advancement of their assistant professors, research assistants and doctoral and post-doctoral students as one of their main duties. In addition to their own research activities, the work of the assistant professors and research assistants is affected by the intense and mutually productive exchange of ideas with the students. The assistant professors and research assistants assume important teaching duties and have sufficient time at their disposal to pursue their own research.
The law school’s management together with its administration forms the organizational backbone. Staff members are dedicated to the principles of personal responsibility and team spirit. They ensure that daily campus life functions smoothly and take into account the needs of the students, lecturers and researchers.
The law school's management provides the impulse to achieve the maxims set and acts on the impetus from the law school community. Respecting the confidentiality of the individual, management creates the ideal premises for the participation and transparency in law school matters. It is responsible for directing the Law School in the manner depicted and is committed to operating within the existing financial parameters.
Donations from private sponsors are a sign of society’s confidence in the law school. The acquisition and maintenance of sponsors is an integral aspect of Bucerius’ concept. Being aware of its responsibility to its members, society and sponsors, the law school continually explores new means to fulfill the steadily increasing expectations of an educated society. The law school is open to the further development of graduate studies and related subjects. After careful planning and consideration, it will expand its programs. In this manner, Bucerius would like to make a lasting contribution to the renewal and retention of continuing university education.
The ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius accompanies the Bucerius Law School as its founder, sole shareholder and largest sponsor while at the same time allowing the Law School to maintain its academic integrity. Bucerius Law School and the Foundation are allied with each other in the service of a blossoming evolution of research and teachings.
This mission statement was drawn up by members of the Law School and approvingly acknowledged by the Board of Trustees and the Supervisory Board of the Bucerius Law School. It was adopted by Bucerius Law School’s Senate on July 5, 2006.
