Duration
Full-time: 4 years
Part-time: Varies
Next start date
2026 Semester One – 2 March
2026 Semester Two – 20 July
Available locations
City
Points
480
Programme type
Undergraduate
Conjoint options available

Programme overview

When you embark on a Law degree you will develop analytical, communication and research skills. You will also build your understanding of legal ethics, professional responsibility and the role that law plays in society.

Auckland Law School is the top-ranked Law school in Aotearoa New Zealand and one of the best law schools in the world (QS World University Rankings in Law).

Programme structure

The LLB is a four-year degree programme made up of 480 points.

The LLB includes a combination of compulsory law courses, elective law courses, non-law courses from another degree programme, and one Waipapa Taumata Rau core course.

In your first year, you will take LAW 121G Law and Society alongside three non-law courses in Semester One and LAW 131 Legal Method, LAW 141 Legal Foundations and two non-law courses in Semester Two. You will also take the Waipapa Taumata Rau core course associated with your non-law degree.

To plan and complete your degree successfully, you need to be proactive about finding information. You can seek advice from a Student Hub to make sure you're on track. At a Student Hub you can find out more about individual law courses, LLB Degree Planning, LLB Part I Degree Planning, and LLB Part II–IV Degree Planning.

Scholarships
Discover the wide range of scholarships available at Auckland Law School for domestic and international students. 

Most students need to take one General Education course.

Students should also be aware of the University’s Academic English Language Requirement.

For all official programme information, including regulations about entry, enrolment, fees, examinations, and requirements for degrees, diplomas and certificates, see the University Calendar.

Sample programme structure

Part I 120 points

  • Code:
    LAW 121G
    Name:
    Law and Society
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 131
    Name:
    Legal Method
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 141
    Name:
    Legal Foundations
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Non-Law
    Type:
    Courses for other non-Law degree
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Non-Law
    Type:
    Courses for other non-Law degree
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Non-Law
    Type:
    Courses for other non-Law degree
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Non-Law
    Type:
    Courses for other non-Law degree
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Name:
    Waipapa Taumata Rau Course
    Type:
    Core course
    Points:
    15 pts

Part II 130 points

  • Code:
    LAW 298
    Name:
    Legal Research, Writing and Communication
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    10 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 201
    Name:
    Criminal Law
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 211
    Name:
    Public Law
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 231
    Name:
    Law of Torts
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 241
    Name:
    Law of Contract
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    30 pts

Part III 125 points

  • Code:
    LAW 301
    Name:
    Land Law
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    20 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 306
    Name:
    Equity
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    20 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 316
    Name:
    Jurisprudence
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    15 pts
  • Code:
    LAW 458
    Name:
    Legal Ethics
    Type:
    Elective course. Required course if you intend to practice law as a barrister/solicitor.
    Points:
    10 pts
  • Name:
    Law elective courses
    Type:
    Elective course
    Points:
    60 pts

Part IV 105 points

  • Code:
    LAW 498
    Name:
    Advanced Legal Research, Writing and Communication
    Type:
    Compulsory core course
    Points:
    0 pts
  • Name:
    Law elective courses
    Type:
    Elective course
    Points:
    105 pts

Where could this programme take you?

A law degree prepares you for a wide range of professions in the legal industry and beyond. A law degree will arm you 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 flourish under pressure. A degree from the University of Auckland Law School is well-respected. In any given year, about half of our graduates are employed in New Zealand law firms, while the other half begin their careers in other professional organisations. These include accounting and consulting; business and industry; national and local government; teaching, research and journalism; and international, environmental and other non-governmental areas. Our graduates can practice law in New Zealand and worldwide – many former students work for leading law firms in London, New York, Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other major cities. Some of our top students go on to study our LLM, MTaxS and PhD degrees. Auckland Law School also offers one of the most extensive postgraduate programmes in the country.

Jobs related to this programme

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

Meet Iqra Khan, a recent graduate of the Auckland Law School, who pursued a conjoint degree, combining a Bachelor of Laws with a Bachelor of Arts.

Meet Iqra

Student career planning service

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

To discover even more careers that are possible with a Law degree, explore our conjoint options.

Key Information for Students

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