France is home to many public research universities with law programs. In the French higher education system, a Licence is normally completed over six semesters and awards 180 ECTS credits. Some institutions offer programs in fields such as European law, international law, comparative law, and business law.
Some institutions also offer selected graduate-level law programs taught in English. Let’s take a look at some best law schools in France.
Top Law Schools in France
1. Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University has developed its multidisciplinary mission since 1971. It is a public research university in Paris and the largest university in the humanities and social sciences in France. Its main subject areas include economics and management, humanities and the arts, and law and political science. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Paris 1 ranked 19th worldwide and first in France for Law and Legal Studies. It also ranked first in France for Archaeology and History.
Paris 1 offers law programs at several levels. Its selected English-taught law options include the Sorbonne LL.M. Business Law Certificate for Foreign Lawyers, the Master 2 Global Business Law and Governance, and the Master 2 English and North-American Business Law. The Sorbonne LL.M. is intended for young lawyers, jurists, and recent law graduates from non-French jurisdictions who are fluent in English.
2. Panthéon-Assas University Paris 2
- English-Taught Programs
- Degrees Offered: LL.B., LL.M. | Medium of Instruction: English for the listed international programs; the university also offers programs taught in French
Paris-Panthéon-Assas University is based in Paris and describes itself as France’s first and oldest law university. It offers programs in law, political science, economics, management, and information and communication sciences. The university reports more than 23,000 students and 1,500 professors.
Paris-Panthéon-Assas University offers English-taught programs in Paris and at international campuses. Its English-taught LL.B. programs are offered in the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius. At the Paris campus, current English-taught LL.M. options include Public Law and Democracy, A.W.Ar.D.S. (Assas World Arbitration and Disputes Settlement), European Law, International Business Law, and International Construction Contracts.
3. Sciences Po
- Study Programs
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s program with legal studies, Master’s, LL.M., Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: English, French
Sciences Po traces its history to the École Libre des Sciences Politiques, founded by Émile Boutmy in 1872. Following partial nationalization in 1945, its structure was divided between the private and independent Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, responsible for research and documentation, and the Institut d’Études Politiques, focused on teaching. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, Sciences Po ranked third worldwide in Politics and 59th worldwide in Law and Legal Studies.
At the undergraduate level, law is one of six core disciplines in Sciences Po’s multidisciplinary bachelor’s program in the humanities and social sciences. The Law School’s dedicated programs include the two-year Master in Economic Law, the two-year Master in Judicial and Legal Professions, the three-year Joint Master of Law and Finance, the one-year LL.M. in Transnational Arbitration and Dispute Settlement, the one-year General LL.M., and a Ph.D. program. The Master in Judicial and Legal Professions is taught in French, while the General LL.M. is fully taught in English.
4. Universite Jean Moulin Lyon III
- LL.M. Program
- Degree Offered: LL.M. | Medium of Instruction: English
Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University is a public higher education and research institution founded in 1973. It offers programs in law, management, the humanities, and the social sciences. Its academic fields also include political science and international relations, Francophone studies, accounting, philosophy, languages, literature, history, geography and planning, and information and communication.
The Faculty of Law of Lyon, now attached to Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, was created by decree in 1875 and marked its 150th anniversary in 2025. In 1913, the Law School of Beirut, attached to the University of Lyon, was inaugurated with a key role played by Professor Paul Huvelin. The Faculty of Law currently offers a Master 2 LL.M. in International and European Business Law. The program takes place in Lyon over a full academic year, is taught exclusively in English, and leads to a French national master’s degree in law.
5. Paris Sciences et Lettres University
- Bachelor’s Program | Graduate Program
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. | Medium of Instruction: French for the bachelor’s program; graduate offerings vary by program
Université PSL is a multidisciplinary university in Paris. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, it ranked 28th worldwide and first among French universities in that ranking.
PSL’s law bachelor’s program is prepared at Dauphine-PSL, taught in French, and conferred as an institutional bachelor’s degree by Université PSL. It includes a double-degree track in law and management and a track focused on public governance and law. At the graduate level, PSL’s law program connects master’s and Ph.D. study and covers subjects including international, European, and comparative law; business, public, private, and tax law; estate law; and public administration.
France offers a range of law programs, including options for students who want to begin or continue their legal studies in a multicultural setting. Review each university’s official program page carefully before applying because the available degrees, teaching languages, admissions requirements, and deadlines vary by program.
We hope that this article on law universities in France was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in France and Available Programs for International Students!
