Best Law Schools in Switzerland

Last Updated on January 15, 2023

Law – or legal studies – refers to the ‘art of justice.’ It has been practiced since 3000 BC by the Ancient Egyptians. While the study has changed through time, one thing is for sure: you need to get a law degree to practice legally. In the following sections, we will list the best law schools in switzerland.

Switzerland is a great place to study, offering low tuition in general regarding the Public Higher Education system. Students who aim to become lawyers one day may choose from a wide range of Universities that provide excellent programs in obtaining a degree. Are you looking for law school in Switzerland? Whether you want to study about law courses in Switzerland or LLM programs you can get all the information you need here.

Right here on infolearners, you are privy to a litany of relevant information on llb in switzerland, study law in switzerland in english, best law schools in europe, best law schools in the world, and so much more. Take out time to visit our catalog for more information on similar topics.

Best universities in Switzerland 2022 | Student

Is Switzerland Good to study law?

Even though Switzerland has some of the most known public universities in Europe, only nine have law schools. Most of them are on the list of best law schools in Europe. … We include seven from the nine law schools in the country, starting with the top Swiss universities. Also read about how to become a lawyer in Switzerland in this post.

How long is law school in Switzerland?

Law Degrees in Switzerland In order to become a lawyer in Switzerland, students must complete a three-year Bachelor of Law (LLB). However, in order to be admitted to the bar and enter practice, a subsequent two-year Master of Laws is also required.

Best Universities in Switzerland for International Students 2021 | Ranking

Can foreigners become lawyers in Switzerland?

Non-EU or -EFTA nationals must successfully acquire a master’s degree in law from a Swiss University, pass the bar exam and fulfil all other prerequisites for admission to the bar.

Best Law Schools In Switzerland

1. Universität Zürich – Faculty of Law

Library-of-the-Faculty-of-Law

With 26.000 enrolled students, the University of Zurich is the largest one in Switzerland. Today, the University of Zurich is the leading university in the German-speaking cantons. That this university is one of the foremost educational institutions in Switzerland, proves its position on most of the world university rankings. Worldwide, it has achieved ranking as the 90th best university in the world.

Zurich Law School also ranks in leading positions for research and as the most diverse faculty in Europe. The university’s membership in the League of European Research Universities has turned this university into one of the most prestigious research institutions.

Courses Offered

Zurich Law School offers a range of programs starting with Civil Law, Commercial Law, Criminal Law, and State, Administrative, and International Law.

UZH Admission Requirements

Admission requirements of the Faculty of Law of Zurich focus mostly on the obtained high school diploma and the study program’s language requirements. Your secondary level of education qualification must be equivalent to the Swiss Matura. Law Program courses are delivered in the German language; therefore, you need to provide evidence of your C1 level of German competence.

UZH Tuition Fees

All interested students who choose the University of Zurich pay an amount of CHF 100 for the application fee. This fee is non-refundable in the case you’re not admitted. In the case of your successful admission, the tuition fee per semester is going to cost you CHF 720 and another total of CHF 54 goes for the mandatory semester fees, which are considered as compulsory contributions.

2. Universität Basel – Faculty of Law

university-of-basel

Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland. It holds a reputation for outstanding achievements in research and teaching. With its various teaching methods, the University of Basel is the Mecca of legal training in Switzerland. What characterizes this university is that more than half of all the students are female, respectively 55,7%. Moreover, four of the most prominent international university rankings have ranked this university as one of the top 150 universities in the world. It is also continuously ranked highly in the list of top ten universities in German-speaking regions.

Basel Law School being part of the oldest university in Switzerland has a long tradition of legal training. However, this hasn’t stopped the faculty to adjust to contemporary legal developments in research and training. The teaching methods in the Basel Law School are tailored to practical requirements.

Courses Offered

Basel Law School offers Bachelor’s students the program of law as a general course without further subjects. Whereas, the Master’s students can choose a law specialization.

UniBAS Admission Requirements

The University of Basel has a list of admission requirements. First things first, you’ll need to make sure that this university recognizes the diploma of the second-level education you got in your country. The university has a list of criteria that you’ll have to fulfill for your qualifications to be recognized. The lectures are delivered in two languages, German and English. Therefore, you may be required to submit proof of sufficient knowledge of those languages (level B2 or C1).

UniBAS Tuition Fees

The university has an official university regulation to which they base the sum of their fees. Students-to-be have to pay an application fee of 100 CHF. In the case of a late application, they’ll get charged an amount of 150 CHF. Students spend their tuition fees semesterly. A semester at this university will cost you CHF 850.

3. Universität Luzern – Faculty of Law

university-of-lucerne

The University of Lucerne is a young university, as it was founded in the 2000s. However, its roots stretch back to the 1600s. The university aims to be a center of research and teaching that provides different academic programs and shares the findings with the world.

Founded in 2001, Lucerne’s Law School is the youngest in Switzerland. Despite its youngness, the Lucerne Law School has had an increase in popularity and the number of interested students. Its curriculum is based on the Bologna Model. Not only has this university experienced an increase in its population in the country and internationally, but it also stands out pretty well even in the rankings.

Courses Offered

Lucerne Law School offers students several law programs to choose from, starting with Criminal Law, Public Law, and Private Law.

UNILU Admission Requirements

For you to be considered for admission, you need to submit your secondary school leaving diploma or any other qualification and proof of German language competence.

UNILU Tuition Fees

All interested students who have chosen this university as their higher education institution need to pay the application fee of CHF 100, which is the same for all levels of study and study programs. Tuition fees at this university will cost you CHF 1800.

4. Universität Bern – Faculty of Law

The University of Bern is located in the center of the Swiss capital. The academic excellence of this university has helped in building a reputation internationally for the city. The University of Basel, as a comprehensive university, follows the tradition of the European universities. According to some of the renowned international university rankings, the University of Bern is one of the top 200 universities in the world. The World University Rankings ranks this university in 113th place. Nevertheless, the rankings don’t necessarily imply the quality management of it.

Courses Offered

The University of Bern offers students a range of programs to choose from, starting with Legal Theory and History of Law, Public Law, Private Law, Penal Law, and Economic Law.

Programs | IE Law School - IE.edu

UNIBE Admission Requirements

The admission requirements of this university depend on where the prospective students got his secondary education. All international students have to fulfill one of the elements. You must have a school-leaving diploma equivalent to a Swiss certificate (Matura). However, there are some country-specific requirements you need to fulfill to be admitted. Another admission requirement is language efficiency. The University of Bern offers its programs in the German language. Therefore, it’s required of you to submit evidence of your knowledge of the German language. Otherwise, you’ll have to enter a language test the university offers. The university recognizes several language efficiency certificates.

UNIBE Tuition Fees

The University of Bern has issued an application fee which will cost you CHF 100. In case of your successful enrollment, this fee will also serve as a registration fee. Per semester, students are asked to pay CHF. 750. Non-Swiss students will pay an additional fee of CHF 200 if they don’t have their civil law residence in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein at the time of their admission.

5. Université dé Genéve – Faculty of Law

The University of Geneva is on the list of the top 100 universities in the world. This university takes pride in the fact that more than 40% of the students are from foreign countries. Many world university rankings have ranked this university in the top 100 universities out there. Geneva’s University is one of the members of the League of European Research Universities, which also includes a list of other renowned higher education institutions such as Cambridge, Amsterdam, Milan, Helsinki, and Heidelberg. Together with twelve other distinguished European law schools, the University of Geneva is part of the Strategic Alliance of Research Faculties of Law.

Courses Offered

Geneva Law School offers students a number of law programs to choose from, with a strong emphasis on International Law, and Comparative Law.

UNIGE Admission Requirements

Students who decide to apply to the University of Geneva have to fulfill the university’s admission requirements. The high school diploma they obtained must be equivalent to the Swiss certificate in hours, duration, and the subject. In some instances, the university may add other requirements, such as the successful completion of the complimentary exam organized by the UNIGE and the successful completion of the French language exam.

UNIGE Tuition Fees

If you’re considering becoming part of this academic institution, initially, you’ll be asked to pay an application fee, which will cost you CHF 65. In total, in fees per semester, you’re going to pay CHF 500. In this price are included both the registration fee of CHF 65 and the administrative fee of CHF 435. The payment is done in a single installment.

6. Université dé Lausanne – Faculty of Law, Criminal Justice and Public Administration

The University of Lausanne is a higher education and research institution located at the heart of the French-speaking region in Switzerland. The law school here provides various courses that help to acquire the knowledge of the law and the critical and analytical skills essential to the exercise of any legal profession.

In this university, you can feel the international atmosphere as ⅕ of the students and ⅓ of the academic staff are from foreign countries. Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks this university in the seventh-place from Swiss universities, whereas Times Higher Education World Rankings ranks it at 198th globally.

Courses Offered

Lausanne Law Schools offers Bachelor’s students the program of law as a general course without further subjects. Whereas,  Master’s students can choose a law specialization.

UNIL Admission Requirements

Prospective international students of this university have to fulfill one crucial admission requirement. The high school diploma must be equivalent to a Swiss secondary school diploma issued by an institution recognized by the government. This diploma must be related to the six branches of education: first language, second language, mathematics, natural sciences, human and social sciences, and free choice. These branches must have been taken during each school year for the last three years of secondary education.

UNIL Tuition Fees

The University of Lausanne requires its students to pay fees. Starting with non-refundable 200 CHF for the application fee and the tuition fee 580 CHF per semester.

7. Universität Freiburg – Faculty of Law

The University of Fribourg is the only bilingual university in Switzerland. All the courses are offered both in German and in French. Also, it offers courses with an international aspect delivered in the English language. The university has an outstanding reputation in research. Its rankings in the Times Higher Education show that this university is perceived as a strong university internationally. According to this ranking, the University of Fribourg ranks in the 300th place.

Courses Offered

This faculty offers its students an array of programs starting with Private Law, Public Law, Criminal Law, International, and European Law.

UNIFR Admission Requirements

The University of Fribourg considers students to be eligible for admission when their high-school diploma is equivalent to the Swiss Maturity certificate. Additionally, international students have to present proof of language proficiency in German and French.

UNIFR Tuition Fees

International students will have to pay a total sum of CHF 985 for the semester fee. CHF 870 will go to the tuition fee, and CHF 115 goes to the basic registration fee.

Having to decide on what university to pursue your dream major is, undoubtedly, one of the hardest decisions to make. It is especially challenging for international students, as they’ll have to take into account not only tuition fees but also the living costs in a new country and everything else in between. What’s important is that you have now decided on the program you want to pursue—law—which means you have one less thing to worry about, and it will make deciding on an institution much easier.

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7. Columbia University (Columbia Law School)

New York City, New York

Columbia Law School JD Admissions Overview
TuitionApplication RequirementsAverage GPAAverage LSATApplication deadline
USD$78,671 per annumLSAT/GRE, post-secondary institutions transcripts, a dean’s appraisal/certification, personal statement, and 2 recommendation letters3.82172Regular: February 15 Early: November 15

About Columbia Law

Columbia Law is a leader in legal education and corporate law, boasting graduates from 199 different countries. Graduates are ready for the world and have limitless opportunities to further their professional, personal, and intellectual growth.

Established in 1858, Columbia Law focuses on experiential learning that includes clinics, externships, and hands-on, real-world experiences with real-world impact. The Law curriculum is rigorous and innovative. Columbia Law adds new courses in emerging subjects and offers dual and joint degrees with Columbia University.

Columbia Law also publishes the “Columbia Law Review,” the third most cited law journal in the world. U.S. presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt graduated from Columbia. Columbia Law’s graduates have gone on to become U.S. Supreme Court justices, CEOs, executives, and more. They serve as mentors and valuable resources for current law students.

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Is it for you?

Columbia Law has long-standing relationships with employers around the world, including Fortune 500 companies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and social justice organizations. They offer counseling, peer mentoring, and a mock interview program.

Located in New York City, the Columbia Law community participates in activities on and off-campus. They offer a supported environment where you can deepen your understanding and appreciation for law and life.

When assessing applications, Columbia law takes a holistic approach. Instead of only focusing on grades and test scores, they also focus on how students will contribute to their community. Columbia believes diversity of all kinds enriches their community, so they seek people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

6. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE Department of Law)

London, UK

LSE Law Admissions Overview
TuitionLLB RequirementsLLM RequirementsApplication deadline
LLB UK Students: £9,250 per year LLB International students: £22,430 per year LLM UK students: £17,328 LLM International students: £25,224A Levels: A*AA IB: 38 points overall, with 766 for HL LNAT and Personal statement requiredUndergraduate degree in law (LLB or equivalent) Transcripts, statement of academic purpose, two academic references, and CV also requiredLLB: 26 January

About LSE Law

LSE Law is a vibrant and inclusive community of world-class students, staff, and alumni committed to bringing an international and interdisciplinary outlook to teaching and research. Established in 1895, the LSE Law Department seeks to understand the causes of things. They pioneered the study of banking, taxation, labor, family, and welfare law.

Today, the department is one of the best in the world. They offer LLB, LLM, Executive LLM, MSc Law and Accounting degrees. Additionally, they offer a double degree program with the Columbia Law School LLB/JD program.

Is it for you?

AT LSE Law, you can study law as an undergraduate. They offer a three-year LLB degree, and then you can take the LPC (legal practice course) after your LLB. The LLM program teaches law from various traditions and jurisdictions, so you can practice law in any jurisdiction. It also offers many specializations. 

While LSE Law doesn’t ask for a specific subject combination for law, they look for evidence of academic excellence, scholarly potential, and curiosity. Reading and research are important in this degree, and students are expected to have a high level of literacy with evidence of this through their post-16 subjects.

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5. Stanford University (Stanford Law School)

Stanford, California

Stanford Law School JD Admissions Overview
TuitionApplication RequirementsAverage GPAAverage LSATApplication deadline
USD$64,350 per annumLSAT/GRE, university transcripts, resume, personal statement, optional diversity/short essays and 2 recommendation letters3.89171Regular: February Early: December

About Stanford Law School

Established in 1893, Stanford Law School has the smallest student body in the top 10 universities, enrolling only 180 students each year. They boast a 4.4:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a 98.91% bar passage. Stanford Law is one of the most research-oriented universities in the world, specializing in practical clinical education with a global perspective.

Unlike many top law schools in the world, Stanford emphasizes student collaboration more than independent learning. Classroom competition and academic pressure lead to teamwork and intellectual stimulation.

Stanford offers many options, including creating your own joint degree and picking your own courses.

Is it for you?

Stanford University is located in the famous Silicon Valley, home to some of the world’s most renowned tech companies. Bustling with campus culture and charm, Stanford students enjoy small class sizes and the tight-knit community. Students also love the pleasant Bay Area weather and the proximity to San Francisco’s famed landmarks. There’s no shortage of internships and networking opportunities in this bustling tech-centric area.

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4. Yale University (Yale Law School)

New Haven, Connecticut

Yale Law School JD Admissions Overview
TuitionApplication RequirementsAverage GPAAverage LSATApplication deadline
USD$67,108 per annumLSAT/GRE, university transcripts, resume, personal statement, optional Addenda diversity statement, 2 recommendation letters, and a Dean’s Certification (must provide after being accepted)3.94173Regular: February 15

About Yale Law

Yale Law is one of the most selective law schools in the world. Established in 1824, it has been a top-ranked law school since the U.S. News & World Report magazine began publishing its law school rankings in the 1980s. Yale Law Journal continues to be one of the most highly cited legal publications in the United States.

Yale Law boasts dozens of famous graduates, including 19 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, former U.S. presidents Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton, as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. World leader alumni include Karl Carstens, the fifth president of Germany, Jose P. Laurel, the third president of the Republic of the Philippines, and Peter Mutharika, the immediate former president of Malawi.

Is it for you?

Yale’s diverse student body comes from 123 countries around the world. Known for its scholarly orientation, many Yale graduates choose careers in academia and are encouraged to spend a few years in government service. Yale Law also doesn’t use a traditional grading system. The first year, first semester students are graded on a Credit/No Credit system and an Honors/Pass/Low Pass/Fail system for their remaining years at Yale.

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3. University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law

Cambridge, UK

Cambridge Faculty of Law Admissions Overview
TuitionBA Tripos Degree in Law RequirementsLLM RequirementsMCL RequirementsApplication deadline
LLB UK Students: £9,250 per year LLB International students: £22,227 per year LLM UK students: £17,148 LLM International: £32,214 MCL all students: £33,738A Levels: A*AA IB: 40-42 points overall, with 776 for HL Personal statement, Academic references, and Cambridge Law Test required. Successful applications will require an interviewFirst Class degree in Law from a UK university of its equivalent from an overseas instiution. Transcripts, academic references, CV, and proof of English language ability required.Top 5-10% in their Law degree. Extra weight for courses related to corporate law. Transcripts, academic references, CV, and proof of English language ability required.BA Law: 15 October LLM: 3 December MCL: 7 January

About Cambridge University, Faculty of Law

Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge initially focused on civil law (the law of ancient Rome) and the Canon law of the Church. The Regius Professorship of Civil Law was founded by Henry VIII in 1540. As one of the world’s oldest law schools, it’s known for its cutting-edge legal research in international law and criminology.

Cambridge University is home to the Cambridge University Law Society, the largest student-run law society in the UK and among the largest in the world. This organization founded the Cambridge Law Journal in 1921, and the publication is now the longest-running university law journal in the United Kingdom.

Is it for you?

Cambridge offers a number of law degrees, including the BA Tripos, an undergraduate degree that gives students a thorough grounding in the principles of law from an academic rather than vocational perspective. Graduate degrees include a Masters of Law (LLM), Masters in Corporate Law (MCL), and a Doctorate in Law (Ph.D.).

Those who wish to pursue law in the United States should note that the BA Tripos in Law is not equivalent to the JD. Completing this degree will not prepare you for passing the bar in the US as it is primarily an English Law degree. While you cannot practice law in the United States with an LLM either, Harvard has a joint LLM/JD program with Cambridge that gives you a degree from both schools in three and a half years.

Cambridge students come from over 147 different countries. Known for promoting collaboration between academia and business, this globally diverse university collaborates with colleagues throughout the world and has partnerships in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

Cambridge students enjoy a vibrant city life that includes restaurants, concerts, pubs, museums, and shops. The city is also surrounded by green spaces and parks where students can walk or bike to everything the city has to offer.

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2. University of Oxford, Faculty of Law

Oxford, UK

Oxford Faculty of Law Admissions Overview
TuitionBA Jur RequirementsBCL/MJur RequirementsApplication deadline
BA Jur UK Students: £9,250 per year BA Jur International students: £28,370 per year BCL/MJur UK Students: £24,450 per year BCL/MJur International Students: £36,930 per yearA Levels: AAA IB: 38 points overall, with 666 for HL Personal statement, Academic references, and LNAT required. Successful applications will require an interviewFirst Class undergraduate honours degree in Law from a UK university of its equivalent from an overseas institution. Transcripts, academic references, letter of recommendation CV, and proof of English language ability required.BA Law: 15 October LLM: 3 December

About Oxford Law

Oxford University is considered one of the best universities in the world. Founded in 1096, this prestigious school has taught law for more than 800 years. They began offering a degree in English law (BA in Jurisprudence) in the 1870s. The Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) became a master’s level degree in the 20th century, and by the 1970s, Oxford developed a large graduate program in law.

Today, Oxford has two main master’s programs; the BCL, designed for students from a common law background, and a Magister Juris (MJur), designed for students from a civil law background. The BCL is considered “the most highly regarded taught masters-level qualification in the common law world.”

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Oxford’s program is the only graduate law program in the world that is taught through a combination of seminars, tutorials, and lectures, giving you a closer connection to your professors and classmates. As a student in the Oxford Law degree program, you’re encouraged to read from primary sources, think critically, and develop your own views about the what, why, and how of law. Oxford Law graduates can practice as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.

Is it for you?

Oxford offers a unique learning experience based around conversations. These “personalized tutorials” occur between two or three students and their tutor, who’s an expert on that subject. It gives students a chance to explore a subject at length and receive feedback on their work. Courses also include seminars, lectures, labs, and language classes.

Oxford has a diverse student body from countries around the world. While academic standards are extremely high and the workload is demanding, Oxford offers a close-knit community that celebrates diversity and promotes change.

1. Harvard University (Harvard Law School)

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard Law School JD Admissions Overview
TuitionApplication RequirementsAverage GPAAverage LSATApplication deadline
USD$67,720 per annumLSAT/GRE, university transcripts, resume, personal statement, optional statement, 2 recommendation letters, and interview may be required.3.88173March 1

About Harvard Law

Established in 1817, Harvard University is the oldest law school in the United States and the best law school in the world. The prestigious school has one of the largest student bodies and large class sizes. They offer a three-year JD program that leads to an initial law degree, a one-year advanced degree (LLM) for students who have their first law degree, and an SJD (doctoral of juridical science).

This advanced law degree is designed for aspiring legal academics pursuing independent study, research, and writing. Notable Harvard Law School graduates include Barack and Michelle Obama and eight sitting US senators.

Is it for you?

Harvard is one of the world’s largest law schools, offering numerous courses, specializations, and extracurricular activities to undergraduate and graduate students. Students in the JD program prepare and publish the Harvard Law Review, one of the most highly regarded and cited university law reviews, as well as a number of other law journals and an independent student newspaper.

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