Master of Legal Studies specialisation in Litigation and Dispute Resolution

A specialisation is a focused collection of courses within a programme that allows you to gain deep, targeted knowledge in a specific sub-field. Normally these courses make up more than 50 percent of a qualification, some of which lead to registration within a certain field. They may be interdisciplinary, professionally oriented, or designed to meet accreditation requirements. Specialisations often restrict elective choice in favour of a clearly defined study plan.

Completed specialisations will appear on your academic transcript.

Please see the main programme link below for further details.

MLS - Master of Legal Studies

Complete 180 points for either of the following:

180 points for Admission under Regulation 1c(i) Requirements, or
180 points for Admission under Regulation 1c(ii) Requirements

Selected courses must include exactly 180 points at level 700.

Admission under Regulation 1c(i) Requirements

Complete 180 points comprising:

135 points for all Compulsory Courses, and
At least 15 points from Group 1 Elective Courses, and
0 to 30 points from Group 2 Elective Courses

Compulsory Courses

Complete 135 points for ALL of the following:

LAW 760 - Directed Study - Level 9 (15 points)

LAW 790 - Dissertation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 702 - International Arbitration - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 771 - Mediation Theory and Practice - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 772 - Mediation Advocacy - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 736 - Human Rights Litigation - Level 9 (30 points)

Group 1 Elective Courses

Complete at least 15 points from the following:

LAW 701 - The Legal System: Sources, Structure and Method - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 706 - Competition Law and Policy - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 707 - Conflict of Laws - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 709 - Corporate Governance - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 710 - Dispute Resolution - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 713 - Intellectual Property - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 720 - Law of Insurance Contracts - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 721 - Patent Drafting - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 724 - Mergers and Acquisitions - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 730 - Special Topic: Regulation of International Trade - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 731 - Special Topic: Commercial Law in Asia - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 732 - Special Topic: Contractual Interpretation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 733 - Special Topic: Shaping the Law in the Tech Driven Era - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 735 - Special Topic: Private Equity and Venture Capital – Corporate Law and Practice - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 736 - Special Topic: FinTech Finance and Regulations - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 737 - Special Topic: Financial Markets Regulation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 738 - Special Topic: IP Law in Asia-Pacific - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 739 - Special Topic: Corporate Lawyers Today - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 740 - Special Topic: Corporate Governance - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 741 - Secured Transactions - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 742 - Remedies Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 744 - Selected Topics in Taxation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 745 - Public Law in Commercial Contexts - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 746 - Data Privacy and the Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 747 - Special Topic: International Commercial Transactions - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 748 - Special Topic: Contentious Tax Disputes - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 749 - Special Topic: Tort Law at the Cutting Edge - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 755 - Corporate Finance - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 758 - Franchising Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 767 - Special Topic: Transfer Pricing - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 768 - Special Topic: Economic Analysis of the Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 769 - Special Topic: Economic Regulation: Principles and Practice - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 770 - Private International Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 772 - Intellectual Property and Practice (15 points)

LAWCOMM 773 - Corporate Governance in New Zealand - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 774 - Comparative Corporate Governance - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 775A - International Taxation (15 points)

LAWCOMM 775B - International Taxation (15 points)

LAWCOMM 777 - Special Topic (30 points)

LAWCOMM 777A - Special Topic (15 points)

LAWCOMM 777B - Special Topic (15 points)

LAWCOMM 778 - Special Topic: Corporate Governance, Social and Environmental Responsibility - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 779 - Special Topic: Asia Pacific Tax - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 780 - Corporation and Investor Taxation (15 points)

LAWCOMM 782 - Trade Mark Practice (15 points)

LAWCOMM 783 - Avoidance Provisions (15 points)

LAWCOMM 784 - Taxation of Property Transactions (15 points)

LAWCOMM 785 - Patent Practice (15 points)

LAWCOMM 786 - Tax Administration and Disputes (15 points)

LAWCOMM 787 - Taxation of Trusts and Non-corporate Entities (15 points)

LAWCOMM 788 - Special Topic: Current Issues in Tax (15 points)

LAWCOMM 789 - Research Essay in Taxation Law (15 points)

LAWCOMM 790 - Dissertation in Taxation Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 791 - Patent Drafting (15 points)

LAWCOMM 793 - Patent Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 795 - Copyright and Design - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 796 - Trade Marks and Related Rights - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWCOMM 797 - Interpretation and Validity of Patent Specification (15 points)

LAWENVIR 710 - International Environmental Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 712 - Mining and Energy Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 713 - Mining, Energy and Natural Resource Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 714 - Natural Resources Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 716 - Resource Management Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 719 - Special Topic: Environmental Law of the Pacific Rim - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 720 - Special Topic: Climate Change Litigation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 721 - Special Topic: Ocean Governance Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 723 - Climate Change Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 726 - Special Topic: Nature Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 727 - Special Topic: Climate Change Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 728 - Special Topic: Global Environmental Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 729 - Special Topic: Comparative Environmental Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 730 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 732 - Special Topic: Selected Issues in Environmental and Natural Resources Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 735 - Special Topic: Comparative Water and Natural Resources Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 736 - Special Topic: Comparative Water Law and Policy - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 737 - Special Topic: Global Environmental Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWENVIR 741 - Special Topic: Sustainability and Natural Resources Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 742 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 770 - Global Environmental Governance - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 771 - Mining and Energy Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 772 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 773 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 774 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWENVIR 777 - Special Topic: Resource Management Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 702 - Foundations of Human Rights - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 711 - Special Topic: Corruption: Comparative and International Approaches - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 712 - Therapeutic Jurisprudence - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 713 - Selected Issues in Family Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 714 - Restorative and Therapeutic Justice - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 715 - Special Topic: Comparative Crime - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 716 - Special Topic: Secured Transactions: Practical - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 717 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 718 - Special Topic: Employment Law: Personal Grievance - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 719 - Special Topic: Law and Computer Science - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 720 - Law of Evidence - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 721 - Mediation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 722 - Comparative Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 723 - Special Topic: Selected Topics in Law of Evidence and Criminal Procedure - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 724 - Miscarriage of Justice - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 725 - Special Topic: Human Rights in their Commercial Context in Aotearoa - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 726 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 727 - Special Topic: Health Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 728 - Video Game Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 729 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 730 - Special Topic: Psychiatry and the Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 731 - Special Topic - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 732 - Special Topic: Collaborative Dispute Resolution and Community Consultation - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 770 - Ideas of Land - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 773 - Theoretical Issues in Therapeutic Jurisprudence - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 774 - The Practice of Therapeutic Jurisprudence - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 705 - Criminal Law and Policy - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 707 - Employment Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 720 - Local Government Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 725 - Privacy Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 726 - Public International Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 730 - Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in National Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 732 - Comparative Indigenous Rights Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 740 - Special Topic: International Human Rights Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 741 - Special Topic: Medico-legal Problems - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 743 - International Criminal Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 744 - Special Topic: International Humanitarian Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 745 - Special Topic: Constitution and Custom in the South Pacific - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 746 - Special Topic: Medico-legal Problems - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 747 - Special Topic: Patients' Rights - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 748 - Special Topic: South Pacific Legal Studies: Critical Issues - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 749 - Special Topic: Indigenous Persons: Law and Policy - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 751 - Special Topic: Regional Law and Governance in the Pacific - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 752 - Special Topic: Contemporary Issues in International Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 753 - Special Topic: Comparative Constitutional Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 754 - Special Topic: Comparative Human Rights Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 755 - Special Topic: Comparative Criminology - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 757 - Special Topic: International Refugee Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 758 - Special Topic: International Disarmament Law - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWPUBL 760 - Selected Issues in Public International Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 761 - Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in International Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 770 - Theory and History of Criminal Law and Policy - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 771 - Advanced Criminal Procedure: Selected Topics - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 772 - Comparative Criminal Procedure - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 773 - Advanced Evidence Law in Criminal Cases - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 774 - Human Rights - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 775 - Human Rights Remedies - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 776 - Human Rights: Selected Topics - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 777 - Human Rights in Mental Health Law - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 778 - Issues in Search and Surveillance - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 779 - Special Topic: International Dispute Settlement - Level 9 (15 points)

Course selection must be approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Law. Courses from outside the Faculty of Law deemed relevant may also be included at the Dean's discretion.

Group 2 Elective Courses

Complete 0 to 30 points from the following:

INFOGOV 702 - Information Ethics (15 points)

INFOGOV 703 - Impact of New Technologies (15 points)

INFOGOV 704 - Artificial Intelligence Regulation - Level 9 (15 points)

INFOGOV 705 - Information Privacy: Theory and Application - Level 9 (30 points)

INFOGOV 706 - Cybersecurity Techniques and Governance (15 points)

INFOGOV 707 - Dispute Resolution Techniques (15 points)

INFOGOV 708 - Intellectual Property and Information (15 points)

INFOGOV 709 - Access to Information (15 points)

Admission under Regulation 1c(ii) Requirements

Complete 180 points comprising:

30 points for all Compulsory Course, and
0 to 120 points from Group 1 Elective Courses, and
0 to 150 points from LAWFAC - Faculty of Law Group 2 Elective Courses, and
0 to 30 points from Group 3 Elective Courses

Compulsory Course

Complete 30 points for ALL of the following:

LAW 701 - The Legal System: Sources, Structure and Method - Level 9 (30 points)

Group 1 Elective Courses

Complete 0 to 120 points from the following:

LAW 760 - Directed Study - Level 9 (15 points)

LAW 790 - Dissertation - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWCOMM 702 - International Arbitration - Level 9 (30 points)

LAWGENRL 771 - Mediation Theory and Practice - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWGENRL 772 - Mediation Advocacy - Level 9 (15 points)

LAWPUBL 736 - Human Rights Litigation - Level 9 (30 points)

Group 3 Elective Courses

Complete 0 to 30 points from the following:

INFOGOV 702 - Information Ethics (15 points)

INFOGOV 703 - Impact of New Technologies (15 points)

INFOGOV 704 - Artificial Intelligence Regulation - Level 9 (15 points)

INFOGOV 705 - Information Privacy: Theory and Application - Level 9 (30 points)

INFOGOV 706 - Cybersecurity Techniques and Governance (15 points)

INFOGOV 707 - Dispute Resolution Techniques (15 points)

INFOGOV 708 - Intellectual Property and Information (15 points)

INFOGOV 709 - Access to Information (15 points)

Please note that while regulations and programme rules for future academic years may be displayed or made available in advance, they remain subject to change. Official, final approved programme regulations for the upcoming academic year will be available when the University Calendar is published in late October of the preceding year. Any information available prior to Calendar publication should be treated as provisional.

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