The first state exam in Hamburg
Across Germany, the first law exam has two parts: the state exam in the compulsory subjects and the university exam in a specialisation. That is set by § 5(1) of the German Judiciary Act (DRiG). Each state regulates the details in its own legal-education statute and exam regulations, and Hamburg is no exception.
The state part
The state part is administered by the exam office responsible for Hamburg. It consists of supervised written papers in civil, criminal and public law and an oral exam. How many papers you write, how long they last and which aids are allowed is set by state law. Reliable details are available only from the exam office and the current regulations.
The specialisation
Your university examines the specialisation. Which areas you can choose and how they are examined is set out in your faculty’s regulations.
The overall grade
Grading uses the nationwide 0 to 18 point scale. The state part counts 70 percent towards the overall grade, the specialisation 30 percent (§ 5d(2) DRiG). Lexxington’s grade calculator works the same way. More on the state exam
Statute books in the exam
In the written exams you work with statute books. Which collections are permitted and whether annotations or markings are allowed is decided by the exam office. Check the current list of permitted aids for Hamburg in good time. It pays to study with the same statutes so you find provisions quickly in the exam. In Lexxington every cited provision opens the statute text directly.
Hamburg state law in the course
The state course adds the subjects in which Hamburg has its own statutes. These lessons are included (German titles, as in the app):
Landesrecht Hamburg
- Landesverfassung
- Landesbauordnung
- Bezirksverwaltung
Polizei- und Ordnungsrecht Hamburg
- Aufgaben, Befugnisse und Verantwortlichkeit
- Standardmaßnahmen und Verwaltungsvollstreckung
- state cases
- 90
- state-law questions
- 30
- flashcards
- 26
- state subjects
- 2
Counted from the current course. The federal material with nearly 5,000 cases comes on top.
Why state law matters in the exam
Civil and criminal law are almost entirely federal. Public law is different. Police law, municipal law and building regulations are set by each state, and administrative procedure and objection proceedings have state-specific rules too. A public law exam paper therefore almost always needs your state’s provisions.
Hamburg is a city-state, where state and municipality coincide or are closely intertwined. So instead of a general municipal code, the course covers the city’s administrative structure.
The basics are on the subject pages: Police and Public Order Law · Municipal Law · Building and Planning Law
State law in your study plan
State law builds on federal law, so a fixed order pays off. The state constitution fits well alongside state organisation law and fundamental rights. Police law presupposes general administrative law and administrative court procedure, because almost every case ends with whether a measure was lawful and how to challenge it.
Municipal law and building regulations usually come after that. If you study in Hamburg, learn the state provisions from the start rather than only during exam preparation. Lexxington therefore places the state subjects in the same semester plan as federal law and reviews them on the same schedule.
Cases from Hamburg
Two examples from the state course (in German, as in the app). Each case has several statements with reasoning and provision.
Der Pflanzkübel von der Brüstung
M hat auf der Brüstung seines Balkons im zweiten Stock einen schweren Pflanzkübel abgestellt, ohne ihn zu sichern. Bei einem Windstoß fällt der Kübel hinunter und trifft den Passanten P an der Schulter. P wird verletzt. Der Balkon gehört zu einem Mietshaus des Eigentümers E.
Die korrupte Ratte
Der Blogger J nennt den Kommunalpolitiker K in einem Beitrag "korrupte Ratte". Er behauptet zudem, K habe Schmiergeld genommen. Er weiß, dass das nicht stimmt. K verlangt Unterlassung.
How to prepare in Hamburg
When you start, pick your state and your semester. Lexxington builds your plan from that: federal material by semester, state law when your degree gets to it. You can change both at any time.
- State-law lessons with check questions
- State cases with statements, reasoning and provisions
- Flashcards with spaced repetition
- State statutes alongside the 26 federal statutes
- Lexxi explains every provision and asks back
Do not leave state law for the last few weeks. Review it early in small portions and you will not have to relearn it before the exam. More on the method
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamburg covered?
Yes. The Hamburg course has 2 state-law subjects with 30 questions, 26 flashcards and 90 state cases, on top of all federal law.
Who runs the first state exam in Hamburg?
The state part is run by the exam office (Justizprüfungsamt) responsible for Hamburg. Your university examines the specialisation. Binding dates, deadlines and admission documents are available only from them.
Can I switch states later?
Yes. You can change your state in the app at any time. All 16 states are included in the subscription at no extra cost.
How is the overall grade calculated?
Under § 5d(2) of the German Judiciary Act (DRiG), the state exam counts 70 percent and the university specialisation 30 percent. Lexxington’s grade calculator uses exactly that split.