Bachelor of Laws
LLB
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Master of Laws
- Master of Laws (International Law and Politics
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Duration
4 years full-time
Entry times
Semester 1 or 2 (February or July)
Fees Estimate
Scholarships
Pathways
Pathways include:
- Master of Laws
- Master of Laws (International Law and Politics
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Download Brochure
Overview
The mission statement for UC's School of Law | Te Kura Ture is 'the internationally recognised, professionally relevant, community focused Law School'.
Students gain a professional degree of outstanding quality in four years. In addition, Bachelor of Laws (LLB) students deal with real people with real problems as part of the innovative clinical studies programme at UC. Our students hone critical practical skills in the process of helping the community.
- Prestigious Law School founded in 1873.
- High employment rates in stimulating, diverse careers.
- Many legal textbooks are written by UC lecturers.
- Guest lectures by Supreme Court judges and top international lawyers.
- Law courses can be credited to most other degrees and students can study towards a double degree.
- International exchanges including the prestigious US Congressional Internship Programme.
- Active Law Students' Society (LAWSOC) and Te Pūtairiki Māori Law Students' Association.
Admission to UC with University Entrance (or equivalent) is required to enrol.
Students with English as an additional language are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.
For information on the enrolment process, please see how to apply for undergraduate qualifications.
Recommended preparation
The study of Law does not require a background in any specific subject at secondary school, and entry to the first year of the LLB is 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, languages, history, and classical studies are useful preparation.
Typical degree structure for Bachelor of Laws
-
Compulsory Law courses
-
Optional Law courses
-
Non-Law courses
(1) May include CRJU 101 and CRJU 160.
Each small block represents a 15-point course. Larger blocks represent 30 point courses.
For full course requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws.
The Bachelor of Laws is made up of the following:
- eight compulsory Law courses
- 13 optional Law courses
- 75 points of non-Law courses (five 100-level courses).
Limited entry into second year
With good grades in LAWS 101 and LAWS 110 (normally at least a B) you will be able to advance into 200-level Law courses, all of which are subject to limited entry. In your second year, if you have completed the 75 points at 100-level, you will take four of the five compulsory 200-level courses (Public Law, Criminal Law, Law of Contract, Law of Torts, and Land Law). If you have not completed the 75 points at 100-level, you will need to take the remainder of those, plus fewer 200-level courses.
In the third and fourth years, you will take LAWS 301 Equity and Trusts and any other remaining compulsory courses, plus the 13 optional Law courses. LAWS 398 Legal Ethics is required if you later wish to be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor.
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 can enrol in three additional Law courses in fourth year:
Double degrees
Many Law students also study towards a second degree, with the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, and Bachelor of Science the most popular. The Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree is also a good fit as a double degree with the LLB.
If you are considering a double degree you should get advice from a School of Law | Te Kura Ture Student Advisor or the Liaison Office.
Find out more information about Double degrees.
If you plan on completing the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in four years, you should enrol in the courses indicated below and as shown in the diagram in 'How do I plan my degree?' above.
First year
In first year you must take:
- LAWS 101 Legal System: Legal Method and Institutions (30 points)
- LAWS 110 Legal Foundations, Research and Writing (15 points)
- and up to 75 points (five courses) from other non-law courses at UC (excluding ACCT 152, ACCT 252, and CRJU 150).
Second year
Entry into the seond year of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is limited to students that have achieved good grades (normally at least a B) in the two compulsory Law courses from first year.
The second year includes 120 points (four courses) of compulsory courses chosen from below. The fifth course you don't take at this year will be taken in the third year of the LLB.
Third year
Along with the remaining LAWS course from above, you will also take LAWS 301 Equity and Trusts in the third year.
The remaining five courses in this year are made up of optional Laws courses, in topics such as international human rights, environmental law, family law, and many others. For the complete list of course options, see Group B to the Bachelor of Laws Schedule.
Fourth year
The final year of the LLB is made up of the remaining eight optional Law courses. For the list of options see Group B to the Bachelor of Laws Schedule.
Students wanting to later be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor need to include LAWS 398 Legal Ethics as one of their options.
If you want to establish a point of difference from other Law graduates, but do not want to complete a double degree, you could consider postgraduate study. Postgraduate options include:
With one of the largest Law internship courses of any Aotearoa New Zealand law school, this UC programme and the clinical and community work experience available can really give your résumé the edge over other graduates.
Graduates can become a practice solicitor, in-house lawyer, or a self-employed barrister. Recent UC graduates have also found roles as research counsel, judge’s clerk, policy analyst, and Māori development advisor.
Legal skills of research, writing, analysis, and reasoning are highly prized in many professions such as politics, policy, public service, foreign affairs, journalism, publishing, immigration, and business.
Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
See Tuition Fee Structure for more information
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 480 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,447 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 480 | Banded Fee - total tuition fee dependent on course selection | $6,576 per 120 points |
| Year | Points | Info | Fees (NZD) |
| 2019 | 480 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $30,200 per 120 points |
| 2020 | 480 | This is an indicative fee - total tuition fee will be dependent on your course selection (banded) | $28,875 (first 120 points) |
Contact us
For assistance with planning your programme of study contact the Liaison Office (new students), or a School of Law | Te Kura Ture Student Advisor (advancing students).
For more general information email info@canterbury.ac.nz or freephone 0800 VARSITY (827 748).
For the full degree requirements see the Regulations for the Bachelor of Laws. For more information on facilities, resources, and staff see the College of Business and Law | Te Rāngai Umanga me te Ture.