Bachelor of Laws
- Degree Structure - Start In
- Semester 1 (February)
480
Overview
Bachelor of Laws
Introduction
Bachelor of Laws students gain a professional degree of outstanding quality in four years.
You will deal with real people with real problems as part of the innovative clinical studies programme at UC, honing critical practical skills in the process of helping the community.
Bachelor of Laws
What will my study involve?
- UC has a specially designed Moot Court room, regularly used for client interviewing, witness examination, mooting, and negotiation competitions.
- Get work experience through internships, clinical, and community work opportunities.
- Many student clubs including LAWSOC, Women in Law, Te Pūtāiki Māori Law Students’ Association, CRIMSOC, and Law for Change.
- The structure of this degree allows you to do a double degree or switch degrees if you are unable to advance to 200-level LAWS or prefer not to continue with the LLB.
Bachelor of Laws
Entry requirements
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
See Admission and enrolment for all information on enrolling at UC.
Recommended preparation
Law studies do not require a background in any specific subject at secondary school, and entry to the first year of the LLB is open to everyone with University Entrance.
You will need to have good reading, writing, and analytical skills. Subjects such as English, drama, economics, te reo Māori, languages, history, and classical studies are useful preparation.
Bachelor of Laws
How do I plan my degree?
The Bachelor of Laws is made up 480 points:
- 210 points of compulsory Law courses
- 195 points of elective Law courses
- 75 points of non-Law courses from other degrees.
The degree takes 4 years of full-time study, or can be studied part-time for up to 10 years.
For the full degree requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws.
Limited entry into second year
With good grades in the compulsory courses LAWS101 and LAWS110 in your first year (normally at least a B grade), you will be able to advance into the 200-level Law courses, all of which are subject to limited entry.
Completed courses from the LLB can be credited to other degrees eg, the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Criminal Justice, if you are unable to, or choose not to, continue with an LLB.
Bachelor of Laws with Honours
If you achieve a satisfactory standard in your first two years of study for the Bachelor of Laws, you may be invited to enter the honours programme. If you meet the criteria, you will enrol in three additional Law courses in fourth year:
See the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws with Honours for more information.
Double degrees
It is possible to study a Bachelor of Laws alongside other degrees at the same time, such as the Bachelor of Criminal Justice or Bachelor of Commerce.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
Bachelor of Laws
Subjects and courses
The Bachelor of Laws follows a closely prescribed structure, with courses covering a variety of legal systems in Aotearoa New Zealand and the opportunity to take optional courses in specific areas of legal interest.
Compulsory courses
Year 1
- LAWS101 Legal System: Legal Method and Institutions
- LAWS110 Legal Foundations, Research and Writing
- Five 100-level non-Law courses of your choice (excluding ACCT152, ACCT252, and CRJU150)
Year 2
Entry into the second year of the degree is limited to students that have achieved good grades (normally at least a B) in the two compulsory Law courses from first year.
Year 3
The remaining five courses in this year are made up of elective 300-level LAWS courses, in topics such as international human rights, environmental law, family law, and many others.
Year 4
The final year of the LLB is made up of another eight elective 300-level LAWS courses.
If you are wanting to later be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor, you will need to include LAWS398 Legal Ethics as one of your options.
Domestic
2024 tuition fee estimate: $7,068 per 120 points
2025 tuition fee estimate: $7,492 per 120 points
International
2024 tuition fee estimate: $35,725 per 120 points
2025 tuition fee estimate: $37,120 per 120 points
Bachelor of Laws
Further study
UC's postgraduate Law options include:
- Graduate Certificate in Laws
- Graduate Diploma in Laws
- Master of Laws
- Master of Laws (International Law and Politics)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law
Bachelor of Laws
Career ready
- UC has Law Internship courses involving community and clinical work experience.
- Gain necessary legal skills in research, writing, analysis, and reasoning for a range of careers beyond law.
- Graduates have careers such as lawyers, policy analysts, Māori development advisors, foreign affairs officers, and journalists.
Find out more about what can you do with a degree from UC.
Example degree structure diagram
Each small block represents a 15-point course. However, some courses may be 30 points or more.
This diagram is an example only – other combinations are possible. For specific course requirements, see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws.
