17 Best Law Schools in Italy:Requirements & Key Info.

Italy is renowned for having quite possibly some of the most seasoned colleges in the world. There are a lot of great Law schools in Italy and this is made possible due to the way that this nation hosts some of the oldest universities in the world. 

Law schools in Italy enable students to study the difficulties confronting European regulations, Public International Laws, and Private Law, with a  PhD.  opportunities across social, cultural, political and economic topics.

A lawyer is a legal practitioner. Lawyers promote rights, enact laws and ensure legal practices are done rightly. Legal Sciences is aimed at developing and fostering the abilities essential for admittance to the customary legal professions (lawyer, magistrate, notary), and at the same time to function in responsibilities in the legal service field. 

Duties Of A Lawyer

A lawyer needs to have basic legal culture, adequate historical knowledge, the capacity to communicate clear and compelling legitimate messages, interpretative abilities, and the capacity to use tools to update one’s abilities.

Lawyers are under an obligation to:

  • Protect the right to freedom, as well as the sacredness and adequacy of the right to the portrayal.
  • Guarantee that preliminaries and hearings conform to legitimate methods.
  • Guarantee that regulations adjust to the standards of the Constitution and EU Regulations;
  • Guarantee that those standards, as well as those in the European Convention on Human Rights, are regarded for security and in light of legitimate concern.

How To Become A Lawyer In Italy

Starting a legal career in Italy is a complicated process, comprising many periods of study and practice, which should be completed to become a certified lawyer.

The legal system of Italy is based on Civil Law. You can only start practicing your profession as a lawyer in Italy after successfully passing the National Bar Exam and registrations to district orders.

1. You should finish a five-year Graduate degree (Laurea a Ciclo Unico Magistrale in Giurisprudenza) 

2. You must pass the Italian Bar Examinations ( Final law test) (same di abilitazione all’esercizio Della professione forense).

3. After getting through the Bar Exams and enlisting with the provincial Bar Council(Consiglio dell Ordine degli Avvocati), an Italian lawyer can legitimately practice  Italian regulations any place in Italy. not just in the geological region where the Bar Exam was passed.

  • To access the Bar exam, candidates must finish eighteen months of apprenticeship and be enlisted in the Register of Learner Attorneys  (Registro de praticanti). Also, obtain a declaration verifying the completion of training. 

  • To obtain the declaration, the trainee is expected to practice for half a year with a registered lawyer or with a government legal department (Avvocatura dello Stato). 

4. After passing the Bar exam, a lawyer enlisted with the Bar Council is under an obligation of continuing legal education. Specifically, lawyers should continually keep up with and increase their knowledge about their areas of specialization 

  • Lawyers are expected to keep up with their careers by taking part in continuing professional education (CPD)activities licensed by the National Bar Council (Consiglio Nazionale Forense) (CNF).

Italian National Bar Council

The Consiglio Nazionale Forense (CNF) is the highest institution of the Italian legal profession, it was founded on November 27th, 1933 by Royal Legislative Decree.

CNF is a public organism and the governing and regulatory body of the Italian legal profession. It holds two main functions: regulatory and disciplinary.

The List of Law Schools In Italy 

Here is a list of some of the best law schools in Italy.

The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies 

Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is a renowned public research university in Italy established in 1987.

The Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna operates in the field of applied sciences: Economics and Management Sciences, Legal Sciences, Political Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnologies, Medical Sciences and Industrial and Information Engineering. 

The School pursues excellence and promotes the internationalization of teaching and research. Inside the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, students follow a training course which is supplementary to the ordinary course which ensures the high quality of their studies.

Law students at the Sant’Anna School follow a double training course in parallel: the Ordinary Courses of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies and the single-cycle Master’s Degree Course in Law (Classe LMG-01) of the University of Pisa.

How to Apply at The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies:  

When applying for admission to Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy you should prepare all required documents. ( You can request a list of necessary documents directly from a university, this may vary for different countries. )

Documents Required Includes: 

  • -Online Application form(Gotten from the school website)
  • -Passport photograph 
  • -Student visa
  • -Local Language Certificate
  • -Proof of fee payment
  • -Declaration for financial support
  • -Application fee
  • -Family Details
  • -Health and Life Insurance

After all your documents are ready, complete your application process by:

  • -Go to the University website.
  • -Choose a program.
  • -Press the “Apply now” button.
  • -Send an admissions form.
  • -Complete admissions tasks.
  • -Go to study.

Law Courses and Degree:

The annual tuition fees at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies range from 10,000-17,000 Euros for international students. 

Visit The Website 

Sapienza University of Rome

The Sapienza University of Rome is one of the top public universities in Rome, Italy founded in 1303. Sapienza is the oldest university in Rome and the largest in Europe, supporting over 115,000 students, including 5,500 international students, and almost 4,000 academic staff. 

The Faculty of Law at the Sapienza University of Rome is the first in Italy in the rankings for subjects of the Times Higher Education. This institution offers a single-course Master’s Degree in Law.

The master’s degree course in Law (LMG-01) pursues the objective of ensuring a higher level of legal education and the mastery of cultural and methodological tools. Students are trained to be capable of allowing an adequate set of legal issues, general and specialized, of cases and case in point.

How to Apply at Sapienza University of Rome

Here are the main steps international students have to follow to apply to programs:

  • -Complete a pre-selection application (IF AVAILABLE FOR YOUR PROGRAMME)
  • -Create an account on Infostud(Sapienza’s student services portal)
  • -Follow the instructions contained in your program’s “Call for Admissions” 
  • -Apply for a study 

IMPORTANT: The final admissions are dependent on the successful outcome of all of the above steps, some of which are not controlled or managed by the Sapienza University of Rome.

Do make sure to follow all the regulations applying to your specific status (e.g. visa applicant, permanent resident, international degree holder, etc.)  

The annual tuition fees at the sapiens University of Rome range from 1000 EUR-2500 EUR. 

Visit The Website.

The European University Institute 

The European University Institute is an international organization and a leading institute in Europe dedicated to research and higher learning in social sciences and humanities.

Founded in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the EUI has earned a reputation as a transnational hub of research and higher learning;

The Department of Law is European and international in character, comparative in its approach and contextual in its methods.

It is committed to the study of law comparatively and contextually, with a special focus on European and international law.

The EUI Law Department is also in collaboration with Harvard Law School, and the Summer School on Law and Logic. View Law

Courses catalogue.

The admission process to European University Institute:

Applications must be submitted exclusively online using the dedicated online Law application form.

The annual school fees range from 10,000 -15,000EUR. 

Visit The Website 

University of Padua

The University of Padua is an Italian university located in northern Italy. The school was founded in 1222. UP is a renowned University known for great academic excellence with years of experience.

The university has eight schools; School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, School of Economics and Political Science, School of Law, School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of  Psychology, School of  Science, School of Human and Social Sciences, and Cultural Heritage. 

Courses At The University Of Padua School Of Law:

Single-cycle Master’s Degree Course in Law – I

Single-cycle Master’s Degree Course in Law – II

Degree Course in Labor Consultant

  • Legal Sciences Services

Degree Course in Law and Technology

  • Public, international and community law

Degree Course in Third Sector Lawyer

  • Sciences of legal services
  • Private law and critique of law

Post Graduate:

  • School of Specialization for Legal Professions  – DiPIC Department
  • Doctoral Course in Law  – DiPIC Department
  • PhD Course in International Law and Private and Labor Law – SPGI Department
  • 2nd level Master “International Business Lawyer”  – DPCD Department
  • 2nd level Master “IDeE: Teaching Law and Economics

Single courses:

  • Master’s Degree Course in Law (Padua – GI0270 also based in Treviso)
  • Master’s Degree Course in Law (Treviso – GI2373)
  • Degree Course in Labor Consultant ( GI0269)
  • Degree Course in Law and Technology (GI2539)
  • Degree Course in Third Sector Law (GI2586)

A double degree in Law: Padua and Paris II (Panthéon-Assas)

University of Padua Admission Process

Follow these steps to apply to the university of Padua:

  • -Go to the University website.
  • -Choose a program.
  • -Press the “Apply now” button.
  • -Complete admissions tasks.

Request a list of necessary documents directly from the university, as it may vary for different countries. 

The tuition fee for the University of Padua is 2,600 EUR. 

Visit The Website.

Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Founded in 1921, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) is a non-profit private higher education institution placed in the urban setting of the metropolis of Milano.

The Faculty of Law at  Università Cattolica was founded in 1924 – one of the University’s first faculties. This faculty is highly esteemed in Italy for its commitment to technical, artistic, and unique preparation for the degree.

The Faculty of Law at Università Cattolica endeavors to train professionals who are proficient in analyzing, applying, and creating the rules of Law in today’s world. 

Programs:

Undergraduate Programmes

Specialization Master Programmes (ITA/ENG)

Programs For International Students

Visit The Website.

University of Naples – Federico II

The University of Naples Federico II is the oldest public university in the world. This school was founded in 1224. 

Federico II is the third University in Italy by the number of enrolled students, but irrespective of its size, it is still one of the best universities in Italy and the world, being particularly notable for research.

The department of law offers a bachelor’s degree in law which is acquired after 3 years of studying (one cycle) and the master’s degree program is a single circle of 4 years.

Law Programmes

Visit The Website.

University of Turin

The University of Turin is one of the ancient and prestigious universities in Italy, and also has one of the best law schools in Italy. 

The Department of Law has strengths in the fields of private law, EU law, comparative law, and related fields. 

All degrees are fully comparable and transferable across Europe, and graduates of the law department practice in several leading jurisdictions across Europe.

The Department also offers some brief degree courses which are one cycle of three years.

School of la Political and Economic -Social  Sciences Degrees In Law:

Single Cycle Master’s Degree Course

  • European legal studies

  • Administrative and Legal Sciences of Public and Private Organizations

  • European Law Studies (course until exhaustion)

  • Degree Courses | Bachelor’s

  • Labour consultancy and human resource management
  • Agri-food law (online)

  • Law for businesses and institutions

  • Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies

  • Digital Administration Sciences (online)

  • Administration sciences and labor consultancy (course until exhaustion)

  • Italian and European Law Sciences – Cuneo (course until exhaustion)

Online courses:

  • Single cycle in Law

  • Agri-food law (Bachelor’s degree)

  • Administrative and legal sciences of public and private organizations (Master’s degree)

  • Administration Sciences (Bachelor’s Degree)

Doctoral school:

  • PhD in Rights and Institutions
  • PhD in Law, Person and Market
  • Last-JD PhD
  • IEL PhD

Visit The Website.

University of Trento

The University of Trento was founded in 1962 and has always strived at building coalitions and reciprocal efficiency with Italian and foreign institutions and organizations. 

The Law Faculty of Trento offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Comparative, European, and International Legal Studies (CEILS), taught entirely in English.

Established in October 2012, the Faculty of Law of Trento is a department incorporating the educational activity of the Faculty of Law (founded in 1984) and the research activities of the Department of Legal Sciences (founded in January 1987).

Courses

Degree courses

Five-year Degree courses

PhD Programme

Masters (in English) – in collaboration with SIS

Click here and view the Admission and Requirements – Department | Faculty of Law.

View Tuition and Fees, Application and enrollment details.

Visit The Website.

Bocconi University

Bocconi University was established in Milan in 1902. Bocconi is one of the best research-based Italian universities and also has one of the best law schools in Italy. 

Università Bocconi has an Undergraduate School, a Graduate School, a School of Law and a PhD School. 

It also offers several post-experience programs and administers hundreds of advanced courses to managers and professionals in all realms of private and public management.

Bocconi seeks to address the research and education needs of the European and global economies. This is achieved by favoring cultural progress, international exchange, and economic integration. 

The following academic programs in law (most of which are held in Italian) are part of the School of Law:

View Tuition Details.

Visit The Website.

LUISS University

The Libera Università Internazionale Degli Studi Sociali “Guido Carli”, known by the acronym “LUISS”, is an independent private university founded in 1974. 

LUISS has four various campuses in the following locations; Viale Romania, Via Parenzo, Villa Blanc, and Viale Pola.

Luiss Guido Carli is committed to enrolling outstanding students of talent and high potential who come from throughout Italy and the world. Luis’s students stand out for their academic excellence, as admission to the university is merit-based, competitive and highly selective.

Louis School of Law Featured programs

LUISS University Admission Process:

You can fill in an application form and submit it on the university website. If you meet the criteria for your application you will be contacted for an online admission test and an interview  held in English  

Required Documents For Admission:

When applying for admission to LUISS University of Rome in Italy you should prepare all required documents. (Request a list of necessary documents directly from a university, as it may vary for different countries).

  • -Health and Life Insurance
  • -Passport
  • -Declaration for financial support
  • -Online Application form
  • -Student visa
  • -Application fee
  • -Proof of fee payment
  • -Local Language Certificate
  • -Family Details
  • -Currently valid identity document.
  • The annual tuition fee for LUISS University is 8,500-12,000EUR. 

Visit The Website.

University of Parma

The University of Parma (Italian: Università Degli Studi di Parma, UNIPR) is a public university in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

The Department of Law, Politics and International Studies at the University of Parma offers Law Degrees.

A degree course that provides preparation for the modern jurist, already well oriented towards various professional outlets, also at the international level

Studying Law in Parma allows students to obtain a quality education that is already well oriented towards various professional outlets, including international ones.

Students are offered: constant direct contact with the teachers; solid legal, logical, IT and commercial skills; participation in the resolution of practical cases, in line with the most modern needs of society, which is experiencing ever faster changes.

Visit The Website.

The University of Florence

The University of Florence is a large university, with a very wide educational offer, which extends to all disciplinary areas.

The school has its origins in the Studium Generale that the Florentine republic wanted to create in 1321. The disciplines then taught were law, civil and canonical, literature and medicine.

The School of Law at the University of Florence offers these courses.

Course Of Study:

Visit The Website.

University of Catania

The University of Catania is the oldest in Sicily, its foundation dates back to 1434 when the king of Spain and Sicily Alfonso d’Aragona authorized the foundation of the Studium Generale with the privilege of issuing legally valid qualifications. This included licenses, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

This school is the oldest university in Sicily and one of the largest in Italy. They are committed to promoting the cultural, social and economic growth of the area. 

Courses

Visit The Website.

University of Pavia

Law has been taught at The University of Pavia for more than a millennium. Its history is traced back to the decision of Emperor Lothair to establish a Higher School in Pavia for the training of notaries and judges dating back to the year 825. 

Today Jurisprudence welcomes and often anticipates the needs of a modern study of law. Particular attention is paid to sectors of emerging importance, comparison with other systems, and exchange programs with foreign universities.

Courses

Single-Cycle Master Degree Courses (5 Years):

Degree Courses (3 years):

Master Degree Courses (2 years):

View Enrollment Details.

Visit The Website

University Of Bologna

The University of Bologna has the best law school in Italy, The University of Bologna was founded in 1088, it has very ancient origins and is known as the first and oldest university in the Western world.

Its history is intertwined with that of great personalities who worked in the field of science and literature and is an essential reference in the panorama of European culture.

This academic institution of law has 5 campuses which are located in; Bologna, Cesena, Ravenna, Rimini, and Forlì.

How to Apply to the University of Bologna:

At The University of Bologna, International students can submit an online application form on the university website. All applicants must follow the following steps; 

-Apply online through the university’s website.

– Fill out all the required information for the program you want to enrol in.

-Review your application and upload the necessary documents.

-Pay the application fee(50 EUR).

Programs & Degrees

Law Bachelors And Masters Degree

-Lega Operator for Security and Data Protection in the Company.

-Labor Legal Sciences and Corporate Relations

-Administration and Government of the Territory -Contracts and Company

-Food, Sport and Wellness

-Transport, Logistics, and Port Systems

The annual tuition fees at Bologna range from 500 – 3,000 Euros.  

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University of Verona

The University of Verona focuses on innovation and the quality of research and teaching.

The Department of Law in the School of Legal Sciences promotes and carries out research in the academic area of CUN 12 – Law.

Lecturers and researchers are exclusively law experts who operate in 19 of the 21 scientific disciplinary sectors in the Law area.

The high quality of teaching and research in a wide range of relevant sectors has earned the Department an excellent ranking in the National Evaluation of Research Quality project (VQR 2004-2010). 

Study Courses

Bachelor’s degrees

  • Bachelor’s degree in Legal services for innovation

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Law Services

Combined Bachelor and Masters – Five-year degree

Master’s degrees

  • Master’s Degree in Emergency Governance

  • Masters’ Degree in Law For Technologies and sustainable innovation 

PhD programmes 

  • PhD in European and International Law

  • PhD in Corporate Economics and Law 

  • PhD in Italian and European Constitutional Law 

  • PhD in Private European Inheritance Relations Law 

View Application and Tuition Details.

Visit The Website.

University of Milan  

The University of Milan is a public teaching and research university, founded in 1924. The university campus is spread in many different parts of the city. It also has campuses in other cities such as Monza, Cremona, and Lodi.

The degree courses of the University of Milan are organized and coordinated through large multidisciplinary study areas, represented by Faculties and Schools.

The Faculty of law coordinates and rationalizes the didactic activities of its study courses, manages common services, and proposes the activation and suppression of courses. They also deal with internationalization, communication of the educational offer and orientation.

Departments:

  • Department Of Private Law And History Of Law
  • Department Of Italian And Supranational Public Law
  • Department Of Legal Sciences Cesare Beccaria

University Of Milan Admission process

The Application Process of Italian University is online. So, you can fill out and submit your application online on the Milan university website.

Application Documents – Requirements

The  following documents are required for application to Milan University:

Bachelor’s Degree Program – Online Application

-Letters of recommendation

-Application Fee

-Official High School Transcript

-Academic Test (SAT/ACT) Scores

Masters Degree Program – Online/Application Form

-Letters of recommendation

-Baccalaureate Degree Official Transcript

-ResumeScore from either the GRE or the GMAT exam

Annual tuition fees for the University of Milan are between 156-3,000 Euros.

Visit The Website.

Is Italy Good For Law Students?

Studies in law are a popular option among students, even international students opt for it as Italy has some of the best law colleges.

Italy is a great choice for legal studies, it has a reputation for hosting some of the oldest and best universities in the world.

How Long Is A Law Degree In Italy?

Law education in Italy is an integrated (Unico Ciclo) program, and undergraduate and master’s education are provided together. It takes a total of 5 years in the form of 3 + 2. For students who want to study law in Italy, 

Which Country Is Best For Law Study?

Here are some exciting countries to study Law:

  • The USA. 
  • The UK
  • Australia
  • The Netherlands

Find out more here.

Is It Hard To Become A Lawyer In Italy?

A legal career in Italy is a complex process, involving many phases of study and practice, which need to be completed to become a qualified lawyer.

The legal system of Italy is based on Civil Law. Read the article above to find out more.

Can Foreigners Be Lawyers In Italy?

Yes, foreigners can be lawyers in Italy. Foreign lawyers must generally respect the Italian ethical rules in the practice of their profession in Italy. 

Find out more here.

Can An English Lawyer Practice In Italy?

Only attorneys/lawyers who have been admitted to the Italian Board of legal practitioners (Albo degli Avvocati) are permitted to practice before Italian Courts or to give advice on Italian law.

Find out more here.

Conclusion

In summary, studying in the law schools in Italy is not simply educational, it sets you an advantage as their degrees and certificates are acceptable all around the world. 

It additionally offers you the chance to learn one of the world’s regarded languages and assists you with acquiring experience in the field.

There is just a single class of legal counselors in Italy (avvocato/advocates). Lawyers can do the full scope of legal work including conducting trials and showing up for court.

This article contains a list of some of the renowned Law Schools in Italy. Carefully go through this article and their websites and begin that career in Law. Do you have suggestions regarding these law schools in Italy? Please leave a comment below.

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