The Masters of Law Program begins each year in October with the Winter Semester and ends the following July or August at the conclusion of the Summer Semester.

Candidates are required to complete courses in the central areas of Civil Law as well as two electives. The required courses in Civil Law include the General Part of the German Civil Code the Law of Obligations, the Law of Property, Civil Procedure, Bankruptcy and Execution of Judgments. Electives are to be selected from the following five areas:

1. Public Law (Administrative Law, Constitutional Law and Government)
2. Criminal Law
3. Special Areas of Civil Law (Family Law and the Law of Succession)
4. Commercial Law, Company and Corporate Law, Securities and Negotiable Instruments
5. Competition and Cartel Law
6. Labor Law

1. Lectures: Together with their German undergraduate colleagues, Masters degree students attend University lecture classes in their required and elective courses.
2. Study Group: An experienced research assistant at the Institute for European Law conducts weekly two-hour study groups specifically designed for Masters degree students. The purpose of the study group is to facilitate a more intensive instruction in the German Civil Law. Topics of the lecture classes are augmented by examples, legal methods, learning techniques and practical exercises. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss problems which arise during their course of study.
3. Comparative Law Tutorial: A weekly comparative law tutorial in Civil Law is offered by Professor Martinek. Civil Law issues are considered and compared on the basis of different national legal systems, their specific problems and solutions. The tutorial also provides the framework for the students in the Masters Program, Professor Martinek and re- search assistants at the Institute to become better acquainted with one another on a more informal basis.

Certification of Achievement During the academic year Masters candidates must acquire four Certificates of Achievement in lectures attended. The course instructor determines the basis of evaluation - either a short oral or written examination - and awards the Certificates of Achievement at the end of the semester. Candidates must acquire two Certificates in the lectures on the required courses in Civil Law, the other two in each of the candidate's electives.

The final examination consists of a Masters Thesis and an oral examination:

Topics for the Masters Thesis are assigned at the end of the first semester. Candi- dates are required to either write a case brief or a thematic paper on a general area of law. The Thesis must be submitted at the end of the second semester.

The oral examination lasts three hours. Civil Law and each of the two electives are examined for an hour.