Law
Qualifications
LLB, LLM, LLM(IntLaw&Pols), PhD
Introduction
The School of Law at the University of Canterbury was founded in 1873 and has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence.
Law students are taught how to think critically, how to analyse complex facts and issues, and how to persuade by logical argument. UC Law students gain a comprehensive grounding in working with statutes, cases and other legal materials. You will learn about law in its wider social, political and historical contexts. UC Law graduates emerge well-rounded, highly competent and with a thorough understanding of the law and all it involves.
UC Law's strengths are recognised globally. You will learn from experts at UC. The School's lecturers are respected internationally, write important textbooks and act as public commentators on the law. Many Law teachers maintain close contact with the legal profession and local professionals contribute to the Law School's curriculum. International visitors to the Law School provide specialist courses on a regular basis.
The UC Law degree offers students a range of options in areas as diverse as Environmental Law, Commercial Law, Family Law, Intellectual Property Law, International Law, Law and Sport, Immigration and Refugee Law, and Media Law.
Law students enjoy the collegial atmosphere at the School of Law, where they get to know each other and the staff in the Law School. LAWSOC, the Law Students' Society, has over 800 members and is very active, organising academic support, social activities, a range of competitions and other events throughout the year. Some of these include the Law Revue, the Law Ball and the Leavers' Dinner. The Māori Law Students' Association, Te Pūtairiki, provides a supportive environment, fostering academic excellence among Māori Law students and organising cultural and social events.
The Law School is housed in a modern stand-alone building with purpose-built tutorial and lecture rooms, and a specially designed Moot Courtroom, which is regularly used for client interviewing, witness examination, mooting and negotiation competitions.
A comprehensive Law Library with extensive electronic resources and advanced computing facilities, and the Alibi Café are all housed on one site. 'The Dock' is a 24-hour computer commons available for student use located on the ground floor of the Law School next to the café.
There are numerous scholarships and prizes, and overseas exchange opportunities. Law firms and other employers come to the School each year to recruit summer clerks and graduates.
Many Law students choose to give service to the Community Law Centre or become active in groups like Women's Refuge or Amnesty International.
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.
100-level courses
In addition to LAWS 101 and LAWS 110, students must successfully complete 75 points of courses from other UC degrees. Refer to the Bachelor of Laws page for more information.
This freedom of choice in first-year Law allows students to try various subjects before making a final decision about the degree or degrees they intend to complete. Students intending to complete a double degree will choose non-Law courses needed for progression in their other degree.
200-level and beyond
Good grades (normally at least a B) in LAWS 101 and LAWS 110 are necessary to advance into second-year Law. Refer to the Bachelor of Laws page for details of second-year study.
Diversity and flexibility characterise third and fourth-year Law. There is an array of optional courses including the following areas:
- commercial law
- community law
- criminal justice
- information, media and technology law
- international law
- Māori land and resource law
- immigration and refugee law
- property and environmental law.
Students may also take other highly specialised courses, such as Law and Sport, Trial Advocacy and Antarctic Legal Studies.
See the Bachelor of Laws page for details of the Bachelor of Laws Honours.
Law graduates wishing to seek admission as Barristers and Solicitors of the High Court of New Zealand are required to undertake a Professional Legal Studies course following completion of their LLB. This is administered by institutions which are independent of the universities.
Further study
Options for postgraduate study include the Master of Laws, Master of Laws in International Law and Politics or the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Law.
Career opportunities
Law degrees are popular because of the wide-ranging career opportunities available to Law graduates. There are UC Law graduates among the judiciary and at all levels of the New Zealand legal profession, 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. UC Law graduates have become politicians and army officers, 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
School of Law
Telephone: +64 3 364 2602
Email: law-enquiries@canterbury.ac.nz