The first state exam in Bavaria
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 Bavaria is no exception.
The state part
The state part is administered by the exam office responsible for Bavaria. 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 Bavaria 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.
Bavaria state law in the course
The state course adds the subjects in which Bavaria has its own statutes. These lessons are included (German titles, as in the app):
Landesrecht Bayern
- Landesverfassung
- Landesbauordnung
- Popularklage und Verfassungsbeschwerde zum BayVerfGH
- BayVwVfG und Widerspruchsverfahren
Polizei- und Ordnungsrecht Bayern
- Aufgaben, Befugnisse und Verantwortlichkeit
- Standardmaßnahmen und Verwaltungszwang
- Störer, unmittelbare Ausführung und Kosten
- Sicherheitsbehörden und LStVG
Kommunalrecht Bayern
- Gemeinden, Organe und Kommunalaufsicht
- Bürgerbegehren und Bürgerentscheid
- Kommunalverfassungsstreit
- Satzungen, öffentliche Einrichtungen und Benutzung
- state cases
- 21
- state-law questions
- 54
- flashcards
- 42
- state subjects
- 3
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.
Bavaria is a territorial state with its own municipal constitution. The course therefore covers municipal organs, by-laws and supervision under Bavaria law.
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 Bavaria, 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 Bavaria
Two examples from the state course (in German, as in the app). Each case has several statements with reasoning and provision.
Bürgerbegehren gegen ein Hallenbad
Bürger sammeln Unterschriften gegen den Bau eines kommunalen Hallenbads. Sie nennen keinen Vorschlag zur Deckung der Kosten. Der Gemeinderat weist das Begehren als unzulässig zurück.
Fehlende Anhörung
Die Behörde erlässt einen belastenden Verwaltungsakt, ohne den Betroffenen B vorher anzuhören. B klagt. Im Prozess holt die Behörde die Anhörung nach.
How to prepare in Bavaria
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 Bavaria covered?
Yes. The Bavaria course has 3 state-law subjects with 54 questions, 42 flashcards and 21 state cases, on top of all federal law.
Who runs the first state exam in Bavaria?
The state part is run by the exam office (Justizprüfungsamt) responsible for Bavaria. 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.