Courses, Subjects and Qualifications

Courses, Subjects and Qualifications

Courses



Year 2011 2012


Subjects

Qualifications

Bachelor of Laws LLB

Introduction

The Bachelor of Laws is a four-year professional degree that allows you to specialise in a range of areas in your third and fourth years. Law graduates are highly employable in both the private and public sectors, in law firms, business and government.

Features of the LLB at UC

  • Four-year professional degree
  • Prestigious Law School founded in 1873
  • High employment rates into stimulating, diverse careers
  • Quality teaching and innovative courses
  • Many legal textbooks are written by UC lecturers
  • Close links with the legal profession and other employers
  • Potential to study towards a highly regarded double degree
  • Numerous scholarships and bursaries
  • First-class purpose-built facilities
  • International exchanges

Recommended background

The study of Law does not require a background in any specific subject at school. The first-year Law courses LAWS 101 and LAWS 110 are open to all students with entry to the University.

You will need to have good reading, writing and analytical skills. Subjects such as English, drama, economics, te reo Māori, foreign languages, history and classical studies are useful preparation.

Students with science, mathematics, music or art backgrounds also succeed in Law. They must also have good language skills and express themselves well in writing.

Degree structure

The Bachelor of Laws is made up of the following:

  • Eight compulsory Law courses
  • 12 optional Law courses
  • 75 points of non-Law courses (five 100-level courses). LAWS 102 may be included in these.

For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws (University Regulations website).

LLB degree structure diagram

In the first year students will take LAWS 101 Legal System: Legal Methods and Institutions (30 points), LAWS 110 Legal System: Research, Writing and Legal Foundations (15 points) and up to 75 points from other courses (note: ACIS 152 and 252, ACCT 152 and 252 are not approved courses). LAWS 102 Law, Justice and Morality (15 points) is optional but may be included in these points. Students planning to complete the LLB degree in four years must enrol, in Year 1, in the number of courses shown in the diagram.

With good grades in LAWS 101 and LAWS 110 (normally at least a B) students can advance into 200-level Law courses, all of which are subject to limitation of entry. In their second year students who have completed the 75 points at 100-level will take four of the five compulsory 200-level courses (Public Law, Criminal Law, Law of Contract, Law of Torts and Land Law). Those who have not completed the 75 points at 100-level will take the remainder of those, plus fewer 200-level courses.

In their third and fourth years, students will take LAWS 301 Equity and Succession and any other remaining compulsory courses, plus the 12 optional Law courses. LAWS 398 Legal Ethics is mandatory for admission as a Barrister and Solicitor.

Bachelor of Laws Honours

Students who attain a satisfactory standard in their first two years of study for the LLB degree may be invited to enter the honours programme. Students meeting the criteria enrol in three additional Law courses: LAWS 410 Advanced Research Skills, LAWS 420 Honours Research Paper and LAWS 430 Honours Dissertation.

For the full requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws Honours (University Regulations website).

Double degrees

It is possible to combine the study of a Law degree with the study of another degree, such as Arts, Commerce or Science. Students considering a double degree should consult the Academic Manager of the School of Law as well as the Student Advisor in the other College, in planning their enrolment.

See the double degrees page for more information.

Further study

Postgraduate options include:

Career opportunities

Law degrees are popular because of the career opportunities that Law graduates have. There are Canterbury Law graduates among the judiciary, at all levels of the New Zealand legal profession and in towns and cities across New Zealand and the world.

The core legal skills of research, writing, analysis and reasoning are highly prized in many professions. Canterbury Law graduates have become politicians and ministers, policy analysts and public servants, diplomats and company directors.

Every industry needs people who know the law as it applies to them, so people with a background in Law have the ability to be involved in any area of life in which they are interested.

Contact

For more information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone in NZ 0800 VARSITY (827 748).

For assistance with planning your programme of study contact the School of Law (advancing students) or Student Liaison (new students) or visit Student Liaison’s course planning page (new students).