Hamburg’s Persistent Gender Gap in Legal Exam Grades

Hamburg’s Legal Exams Expose Stubborn Gender Gap in Grades and Opportunities

Hamburg's legal state examinations have revealed a persistent gender gap, with male candidates consistently outperforming their female counterparts. This disparity, which impacts employment prospects, has sparked investigations and calls for change.

The oral exams, accounting for 30% of the final grade, disproportionately disadvantage female candidates when evaluated by male examiners. Between 2022 and 2024, only one woman achieved the top grade, compared to 11 men. The University of Hamburg's Equal Opportunity Office offers specialized exam preparation for women, focusing on the oral component, but digital exams have not significantly improved the gender disparity in results. The one-year exam preparation phase, often completed in private cram courses costing around €2,000, may also contribute to the gap. The Hamburg Senate is currently investigating the cause of this gender gap in collaboration with North Rhine-Westphalia's research project.

Hila Latifi, spokesperson for the Hamburg Left Party, attributes the grade disparity to outdated biases and demands modernized legal education practices. The disparity in written exam scores also favors men, with 135 men scoring above 10 points compared to 91 women.

The gender gap in Hamburg's legal state examinations is a pressing issue, with potential causes ranging from biased oral exams to unequal access to exam preparation. The Hamburg Senate's investigation aims to identify the root of the problem and pave the way for necessary reforms to ensure fairness and equality in legal education and employment.