Course details

Summary

Gain the skills and knowledge that meet the high demands of a wide range of careers, both inside and outside the legal profession.

Programme overview

Through the study of law, you will arm yourself with a skill set that meets the high demands of any legal career, including knowledge of the law and its implications, analytical and research skills, social appreciation, public responsibility and communication skills.

The Auckland Law School is ranked the best law school in New Zealand and one of the best law schools in the world.

To become an LLB Part I (first-year) student you must first apply and be accepted into one other bachelors degree programme for your non-law courses. Places in LLB Part II (second year) are limited, and all applicants must go through a selection process.

You can combine your law degree with a wide range of conjoint programmes (in Arts, Commerce, Engineering, Health Sciences, Music, Property or Science).

There are distinct entry requirements for Part I (first-year) and Part II (second-year) of the LLB.

Programme structure

The LLB is a four-year (eight-semester) degree if you are studying full-time.

The degree is made up of 480 points, studied in four parts (Parts I–IV). It is a combination of compulsory law courses, elective law courses, non-law courses from another degree programme and one General Education course. We offer a wide range of law elective courses, including Corporate and Commercial, Public, Criminal, International, Family, and Environmental Law.

Unlike other undergraduate degrees, the LLB does not have a major attached to it. Everyone who earns an LLB degree gains a broad background in the law.

After completing the LLB, students who wish to be admitted as a barrister and solicitor must complete an approved professional legal studies course.

Where could this programme take you?

Arm yourself with many transferable skills, including knowledge of the law and its implications, a sense of justice and public responsibility, analytical, research and communication skills, and an ability to work under pressure. Our graduates can be found practising law in New Zealand and worldwide. Many graduates also choose to begin their careers in other areas, such as accounting and consultancy, business and industry, national and local government, teaching, research and journalism. They are also well-prepared for work in international, environmental and other non-government organisations.

Jobs related to this programme

• Academia – lecturing, research
• Government – policy work, resource management, parliamentary drafting
• Judiciary
• Law reform
• Mediation
• Private companies – in-house legal counsel, tax, property, management consultant, regulation, compliance, human resources
• Private practice – barrister, solicitor
• Public service – prosecution, defence

Further study options

• Graduate Certificate in Law
• Graduate Diploma in Law
• Postgraduate Certificate in Law
• Master of Laws
• Master of Taxation Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy

Entry criteria

Secondary school qualifications

You need to have one of the following:

International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum total score of 24.

General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level. You must have completed a minimum of three A-Level subjects with at least a 'C' grade or higher. General Studies or similar general papers cannot be included.

GCE ‘A’ Level requirements apply to ‘A’ Level qualifications examined by bodies such as AQA, OCR, Edexcel, WJEC, CCEA, Pearson Education Limited and CIE taken outside of New Zealand.

English language requirements:

IELTS 6.0; TOEFL (iBT) 80; TOEFL (paper-based) 550; CAE or CPE 169; PTE 50; MELAB 80.