Modules on the Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice

Why is the Master’s in Law and Legal Practice compulsory?

Before 2011, a law degree was sufficient to practise as a lawyer in Spain. Law 34/2006, subsequently amended by Law 15/2021, changed this: an official qualifying Master’s degree is now required, as is passing a national assessment exam to obtain professional qualification.

The aim of this reform was to improve the technical quality of legal professionals and to ensure that those entering the profession possess not only theoretical knowledge but also real-world practical skills. The result: a Master’s degree that is not merely educational, but the key to accessing two of the most important legal professions within the Spanish judicial system.
 

Full curriculum
 

First year: technical and legal training (54 ECTS)

The first year forms the core of the Master’s programme. You will study procedural techniques across all areas of law — civil, criminal, employment, administrative and constitutional — and develop the practical skills you will need in your day-to-day professional practice.

First term:

Second term:

Second year: external placements and Master’s thesis (36 ECTS)

How is the course organised into legal modules?

Module 1: Procedural Techniques (27 ECTS)

The procedural lawyer is at the heart of the litigation lawyer. This module covers all areas of jurisdiction within the Spanish legal system:

• Civil Procedural Techniques (6 ECTS): the most common area of practice in private law. You will learn how to draft claims, manage deadlines, present evidence and defend your client in civil proceedings.
• Criminal Procedural Techniques (6 ECTS): from the initial complaint through to the oral hearing. Defence and prosecution in criminal proceedings , appeals and interim measures.
• Labour Procedure (4 ECTS): individual and collective disputes, dismissals, wage claims and proceedings before the labour courts.
• Administrative Litigation Procedures (4 ECTS): how to challenge administrative acts before the courts. An increasingly important avenue for citizens and businesses.
• Constitutional and International Procedural Law (3 ECTS): the ‘amparo’ appeal before the Constitutional Court and remedies before the European Court of Human Rights.

Module 2: Legal Advice (12 ECTS)

• Advice Techniques in the Private Sector: Civil, Commercial and Employment Law (6 ECTS): contracts, commercial companies, inheritance, and employment relations. The day-to-day legal rights of individuals and businesses.
• Advice Techniques in the Public Sector: Administrative, Criminal, Financial and Tax Law (6 ECTS): administrative penalties, economic offences, taxation and relations with the public administration.

Module 3: Professionalism and Ethics (15 ECTS)

• Skills for the Professional Environment of Lawyers and Solicitors (4 ECTS): communication with clients, courtroom public speaking, time management and negotiation skills. The skills that books do not teach.
• Professional Practice Management within the Bar Association Framework (3 ECTS): how to set up and manage a practice: organisation, invoicing, relations with the Bar Association and client portfolio.
• Ethics and Professional Liability for Lawyers and Solicitors (6 ECTS): the profession’s code of ethics, conflicts of interest, professional confidentiality and the lawyer’s civil liability.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques (6 ECTS): mediation, arbitration and negotiation. The methods increasingly used to resolve disputes outside the courts, which every modern lawyer should be familiar with.

What are the external placements on the Master’s programme? (30 ECTS)

External work placements are, by far, the most distinctive feature of the curriculum: 30 ECTS credits – a third of the total Master’s programme – dedicated exclusively to gaining experience in real-world professional settings.

Where can you undertake them?

• Law firms (ranging from boutique firms to large international practices)
• In-house legal departments ( corporate legal advisory services )
• Courts and tribunals ( placements in judicial bodies)
• Public administration (public bodies with legal departments)
• Solicitors ’ practices (if you are pursuing a career as a solicitor)

These placements are neither voluntary nor supplementary: they are required by law and form a core part of the Master’s programme. The aim is that, by the end of the programme, you will have gained real professional experience that will prepare you for the qualifying examination and for practising as a solicitor.

What is the bar and solicitor qualification examination?

Once you have completed the Master’s programme, you must pass a national assessment to obtain your professional qualification. This exam, organised by the Ministry of Justice, assesses the skills acquired during the Master’s programme and is the final requirement for practising the profession.

The examination comprises:

• Written stage: solving case studies from different jurisdictions.
• Oral stage: presenting the case study before an examining panel.

The UAX Master’s programme includes a specific preparation course designed to help students pass this exam, which gives its students a real competitive advantage.

Which is the most important module on the Master’s in Law?

In a fully compulsory Master’s programme, where all subjects are necessary for practising law, the question is not so much which is the most difficult, but which carries the most weight in your practical training and in the qualifying examination.

The most demanding and decisive modules:

• Civil Procedure (6 ECTS): the most intensive subject in the first semester. Civil proceedings are the most common in private practice and generate the greatest number of case studies. Mastering their time limits, appeals and procedural strategy is essential both for the exam and for day-to-day practice.
• Criminal Procedure (6 ECTS): along with civil procedure, this carries the most weight in the national assessment. It requires a precise understanding of the Code of Criminal Procedure, precautionary measures, the preliminary investigation and the oral hearing.
• Professional Ethics and Liability (6 ECTS): underestimated by many students, this is in fact one of the most important subjects for a professional career. Breaches of professional ethics have real disciplinary and civil consequences. A thorough understanding of the General Statute of the Legal Profession and the Code of Ethics is not optional.
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques (6 ECTS): mediation and arbitration are growing in popularity year on year in Spain. This module combines legal skills with communication and negotiation skills, and is particularly highly valued in modern law firms.
• External Work Placement (30 ECTS): whilst not difficult from an academic perspective, it is the most demanding in terms of responsibility and adapting to the real-world environment. Thirty credits spent in a law firm, court or company expose you to situations that no book can cover. For most students, this is where they learn the most throughout the entire Master’s programme.

Who is the Master’s in Law and Legal Practice aimed at?

The entry requirement is clear: a university degree in Law or equivalent. The Master’s programme is designed for:

• Law graduates who wish to enter the profession as a solicitor or barrister.
• Those who have completed a double degree in Law and Business Administration , or Law and another degree, and who wish to gain the necessary legal qualifications.
• Professionals who require this qualification to progress in their career or change their career path.

What sets the UAX Master’s in Law and Legal Practice apart?

Beyond the official curriculum – which is standard across all qualifying Master’s programmes in Spain by legal requirement – UAX adds elements that make all the difference when it comes to passing the exam and entering the job market:

• Exam preparation course included. This is not an optional extra: it forms part of the programme itself. Whilst other Master’s programmes end with work placements, UAX incorporates specific preparation tailored to the national assessment exam, which translates into better results.
• Practising teaching staff. Courses on procedural law and legal advice are taught by lawyers and solicitors who are currently practising. This means that the practical cases you work on in class are real-life situations, not textbook scenarios.
• Well-established work placement network. UAX has over 9,800 agreements with companies, law firms, public bodies and courts, making it easier to find a work placement aligned with the area of law in which you wish to specialise.
• Online programme. You can complete the Master’s programme entirely online, without compromising on the quality of teaching or the compulsory face-to-face placements. This is a particularly useful option if you are already working or live outside Madrid.

Summary

The UAX Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Practice comprises 90 ECTS credits spread over two academic years: the first (54 ECTS) covers all areas of litigation — civil, criminal, employment, contentious-administrative and constitutional — as well as legal advice and professional ethics; the second (36 ECTS) is entirely devoted to compulsory external work placements (30 ECTS) and the Master’s Thesis (6 ECTS). The modules most relevant to the qualifying examination are civil and criminal procedural law, professional ethics and alternative dispute resolution. Upon completion, students must pass the national qualifying examination to practise as a solicitor or legal representative in Spain.

Sources used

• Official Syllabus for the Master’s Degree in Law and Legal Representation — UAX: uax.com/titulaciones/master-en-abogacia-y-curso-de-preparacion-online
• Law 15/2021 of 23 October on access to the professions of lawyer and court representative. Official State Gazette
• General Council of the Spanish Bar