Rainer Schröder

Introduction

Prof. Dr. Rainer Schröder was a distinguished legal historian and professor at the Humboldt University of Berlin’s Faculty of Law since 1993. He previously held professorships at universities in Hanover and Bayreuth. His academic roles included managing director of the Institute for Notarial Law and membership in various scientific advisory boards. Schröder specialized in legal history, particularly focusing on medieval labor law, Nazi and GDR legal systems, and construction law. He was also a Permanent Visiting Professor at Paris II Panthéon-Assas University.

Education

Rainer Schröder studied law, business administration, and history in Münster, Geneva, and Munich. He earned his First State Examination in Law in 1971, Second State Examination in 1976, a doctorate in 1979, and habilitation in 1985.

Research Interests

Schröder’s work centered on legal history, including:

• Medieval and early modern labor law
• Legal systems under Nazi and GDR regimes
• Comparative dictatorship research
• Civil and construction law
• Legal codification and reform

Publications and Projects

His prolific output included monographs on GDR civil justice, legal history textbooks, and edited volumes on comparative law. He co-founded the online journal forum historiae iuris and contributed to projects like the Focus 8 exchange program with Paris II.

Labs/Institutes

Schröder led the Institute for Construction Law (2004–2019) and the Institute for Notarial Law at Humboldt University. He also advised on legal reforms and international collaborations.

Legacy

His sudden death in 2016 was mourned for his contributions to legal history and the Faculty of Law’s academic identity. Colleagues highlighted his pivotal role in shaping contemporary legal history and notarial law research.