Study Law in Spain

Students who wish to study Law in Spain will find that the public universities in the country offer the best law programs. The law programs deal with the legal systems of Spain, the EU, and the US which allows the students to focus on their field of interest and practice law in the country they want to settle in. Some programs deal with all three legal systems which will allow candidates with multiple options in their career after completing the course.

The country offers affordable education to international students especially if they are enrolled in a public university since these universities have a set tuition range. The top universities in the country also have well-structured law programs at different levels and it is considered ideal for candidates to complete the required coursework before they apply for the law degree. Students should ideally plan to take up a 4-year education in law after which they will have to take a 2-year training program that will allow them to practice law in the country.

Benefits of Studying Law in Spain

The benefits of taking a law degree in Spain lie in the versatile curriculum the public universities here offer. The curriculum often includes subjects related to the Spanish legal system, the legal system of the EU, and even the US. This allows candidates to work in the country of their choice upon graduating from the program they have enrolled for. Most of the student population will be from different parts of the world which provides adequate exposure to candidates regarding the legal systems of different countries and also allows them to create networks that can benefit them in their work lives.

A few of the other benefits include-

• The cost of studying a law program is affordable if the student can enroll in public universities since it is mostly covered by the state even for international candidates. The main cost will include only accommodation and living expenses which will depend on the city the student is moving to within the country.
• Spain has a legal system that focuses on civil law which provides excellent job opportunities for graduates. The curriculum includes the legal systems of the US and the EU as well as allowing students to understand law from different parts of the Western world and letting them practice in these countries with the same degree. The legal system of Spain is similar to that of the Netherlands which will also benefit the candidate if they wish to move countries.
• Most of the programs in law are taught in a blend of Spanish and English which will require candidates to learn both these languages to an extent. Learning Spanish which is the second-most popular language in the world will be an added benefit on their resume irrespective of the country they wish to work in.
• Though most of the programs are taught in a blend of the two languages, international students who wish to study only in English will be able to find international law degrees that are fully English-taught. The choice of learning the language, therefore, lies entirely with the candidate.

Eligibility Requirements for Studying Law in Spain

The eligibility requirements for studying a law program change from institution to institution and also according to the level of the program the candidate has applied for. This being said, there will still be general requirements that candidates will be able to meet for all the universities they are applying to. For the specific eligibility requirements and mark specifications, they will ideally have to contact the admissions office of the respective university.

A few of the general requirements that universities have for law programs are-

• Educational Transcripts
• Letter of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Proof of Proficiency in English, if required
• Proof of Proficiency in Spanish, if required

Duration of Law Programs in Spain

Law programs are considered to be a licentiate degree in the country and are split into the system of Grado and Master in Spain. The Bachelor’s degree in Law is termed a Grado en Derecho and has a duration of 4 years in all where the student will be focusing only on the core courses they are required to do. This degree also sometimes provides students with the option of doing an internship depending on the university the candidate has applied to. Before enrolling in the bachelor’s program, students will have to complete their undergraduate training in law

After completing their bachelor’s program, they will be able to do a master’s degree in the subject where they will be able to specialize in the type of law they wish to practice. This degree has a duration of 1 to 2 years. Upon completing the specialization, they will have to pass a state exam if they wish to practice in the country.

Cost of Law Programs in Spain

The cost of law programs in the country is dependent on the level of the degree the candidate is applying for and the institution they wish to go to. Private universities are expensive and not so affordable when compared to public universities since public universities have a range of tuition fees set by the state. The fee for a law program starts from around €3,000 per year to €32,000 per year. If the candidate has enrolled in a public university, the fee doesn’t go above €10,000 a year and even this can be covered with the numerous scholarship options that universities provide.

Top Universities for Law Programs in Spain

A few of the top universities for law programs include-

• University of Navarra
• Pompeu Fabra University
• Autonomous University of Madrid
• IE Law School
• ESADE Law School
• University of Barcelona
• University of Sevilla

Top Law Programs in Spain

The best law programs in the country include-

International Business Law Program- University of Navarra

This program is a Grado en Derecho and hence has a duration of 4 years in all. The program clubs business and law together and is taught entirely in English. The subjects that are taught include accounting for lawyers, finance for lawyers, international commercial law, transport & payment law, corporate law, international securities regulation, legal aspects of international finance, etc. Students will be awarded 240 credits upon completing the program.

The fee of the program is estimated to be around €14,000 per year.

LLM in European and Global Law- Pompeu Fabra University

This program has a duration of 1 year if taken in the full-time mode and 2 years if candidates opt for the part-time mode. The program is taught entirely in English and awards candidates with 60 credits upon completion. The syllabus for the program includes European constitutionalism and fundamental rights, international relations and global governance, foundations of constitutional law, contract law for the global economy, European and international criminal law, intellectual property, European integration, etc.

The fee for non-EU candidates is €5,749 per year.

LLM in Democracy and Government- Autonomous University of Madrid

This program has a duration of 1 year and is taught entirely in English except for one course which will be taught in Spanish. Candidates will be awarded 60 credits upon completing this course. Students will mostly be learning about administration & public spaces, comparative politics, and political theory as part of the course. The program is offered as a specialization for people who have completed the Grado en Derecho.

The fee for non-EU candidates is €5,079 per year.

LLB- IE Law School

This program has a duration of 4 years and is taught entirely in English. Students will be awarded a total of 240 credits upon completing the course. The subjects that are dealt with include civil procedure, private international law, employment and property law, commercial law, civil & criminal law, Spanish law, etc. Students will be offered the chance of specializing in subjects like international business law, tech & digital law, human rights & social justice, and Spanish business law.

The fee for the program is €22,800 per year.

Bachelor in Law- ESADE

This program has a duration of 4 years and focuses on the discipline of law from a transnational perspective and economic-business background. Students will be able to choose specialization tracks as part of the program. The subjects that are dealt with include civil law, criminal law, mercantile law, procedural law, and administrative law. Candidates will have the option of taking a semester-long exchange program in another country as part of the program. They will also have to submit a final degree project.

The fee for the program is €17,600 per year.

LLM in Business Law- University of Barcelona

This program offers a total of 90 credits unlike the 60 offered by most master’s degrees in law. The program is taught in a blend of Spanish and English. It deals with the fields of commercial, civil, labor, and tax law. It has a duration of 3 semesters and the subjects that are dealt with include contracting & business organization, company & business law, private contract & law, consumer law, etc. The fee for the program is €82 per credit for non-EU students.

Master’s Degree in Public Law- University of Sevilla

This program has a duration of 1 year and students will be awarded 60 credits upon completing the course. The subjects that are dealt with are international treaty law, local law, notarial law, community social law, intellectual property, public law trends, theory of justice, legal research methodology, etc. Candidates will have to submit a final project as part of this master’s program. They will also be able to choose from different electives for a total of 12 credits. The fee for the program is €13,68 per credit.

Career for Law Graduates in Spain

In order to practice law in the country, students are required to complete their bachelor’s degree in the field and then specialize in an area of their interest. After this, students are required to pass a state exam that is conducted annually to be able to practice law in the country. They are also required to have complete a supervised internship in a law firm which is mostly done by candidates upon completing their bachelor’s degree. In short, a candidate will require

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Complete Supervised Internship
• Master’s Degree for Specialization
• Pass State Examination

Candidates from third world countries who have a foreign law degree will be able to validate their degree, apply for legal citizenship exemption and register at the Spanish bar association to practice law in the country.

The careers that graduates can pursue include-

• Public Policy Analyst
• Socio-Political Analyst
• Legal Consultant
• Teaching
• Researcher
• Technicians of Public Administrations