LLB - Bachelor of Laws

Overview
Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates
Regulations
Schedule
Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

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).

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is a four-year, 480 points degree. It includes:

Compulsory law courses
Elective law courses
Non-law courses from another degree programme
One General Education course*

We recommend you choose WTRAED 100 - Waipapa Taumata Rau: Introduction to Te Pūtahi Mātauranga, Arts and Education as one of your General Education courses.

Conjoint options - Conjoint programmes let you pursue two undergraduate bachelors degrees at the same time.

Learn more about conjoints

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.

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

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

Key Information for Students

Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.

button for easy access to information about study this qualification

Overseas qualifications

If your highest qualification was gained outside New Zealand, view our international entry requirements.

New Zealand qualifications

Entry to Part I

You will be admitted to LLB Part I if you:

have achieved the New Zealand University Entrance (UE) standard, and are admitted unconditionally to another University of Auckland programme.
are a graduate, or already enrolled in another University of Auckland bachelors degree programme.

Entry requirements for conjoint programmes with Law are higher than for single degrees.

Graduate applicants can view their options here.

Transfer applicants who have not completed LLB Part I may apply for transfer in Semester One or Two. For advice, visit a Student Hub or submit an online enquiry.

Entry to Part II

Places in LLB Part II are limited, selection is based on academic merit considering your results in:

LLB Part I courses, and
Other university courses completed at bachelors level or above.

There is no direct entry from secondary school into LLB Part II.

For detailed eligibility requirements, visit the Applying for LLB Part II webpage.

If you have studied Law elsewhere, see Applying for Law Transfer.

You can also browse our Frequently asked questions.

UTAS admission to Part II

Through the Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme (UTAS), a number of places are reserved for eligible:

Tauira Māori
Pasifika students
Applicants from certain equity groups.

If you are eligible for UTAS, have completed LLB Part I, and achieved at least a C+ average, you may apply for LLB Part II through the scheme.

Learn more at the Law UTAS page.

Note: Entry requirements may change each year.

Graduate admission to Part II

Graduate applicants who have either:

Sat the Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Completed at least three Stage III or higher Commercial Law courses (e.g., under a BCom or MBA), with at least a B+ average

may use these to demonstrate legal aptitude instead of LLB Part I courses.

If approved, you must take LLB Part I and II courses concurrently in your first academic year and meet the minimum grade requirements.

Find out more at Graduates applying for the LLB.

LLB Transfers

Applicants currently enrolled in an LLB at another New Zealand Law School who have at least 120 points left to complete may apply to transfer.

Please note that the LLB degree structures vary between universities, so not all courses are transferable. For details, visit Applying for Law Transfer.

You could be eligible for another programme, or check out these alternative pathways:

See if you meet the criteria for the Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme (UTAS).
Bridge your educational gap with a preparation and foundation programme.
If you are 20 on or before the first day of semester, have no formal University Entrance (UE) qualification, and are a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident you can apply for special admission.
If you are under 20, have no formal University Entrance (UE) qualification, and are a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident you can apply for discretionary entrance.
If you can demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and maturity, we offer admission to applicants under 16.

Year Fees Applicable

Domestic Student Annual Fees

International Student Annual Fees

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships and awards

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

Scholarships

Discover the wide range of scholarships available for both domestic and international Law students.

This is a limited entry programme: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Semester	Application Closing Date	Semester Start Date	Semester End Date
2026 Semester One	08 December 2025	02 March 2026	29 June 2026
2026 Semester Two	08 June 2026	20 July 2026	16 November 2026
2027 Semester One		01 April 2027	28 June 2027
2027 Semester Two		19 July 2027	15 November 2027

1 - 4

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

The closing date for Bachelor of Laws Part ll is 1 December.

Please note that you can only start Part II in Semester One.

The regulations for this degree are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

Note: This is a limited entry programme as per the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 and selection criteria apply. Selection criteria are available from the Faculty of Law.

Graduate Admission

1 A student who is a graduate or graduand of any university in New Zealand, or who is granted admission ad eundem statum with graduate status under the Admission Regulations, may be granted credit of up to 75 points towards LLB Part I. Such a student will normally be required to pass satisfactorily LAW 121G, 131 and 141 before applying for admission to LLB Part II.

Notes:

(i) Admission to Part II will be subject to selection, according to the approved selection criteria.

(ii) In exceptional circumstances the Dean of Faculty of Law may permit a graduate or graduand to be admitted directly to LLB Part II without having passed LAW 121G, 131 and 141, provided that the applicant has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Dean an aptitude for legal studies, and provided that LAW 121G, 131 and 141 are taken concurrently with the Part II course(s).

2 A student enrolled for this degree must follow a programme of the equivalent of eight full-time semesters and pass courses with a total value of 480 points, unless credit is granted under the Admission Regulations and/or the Credit Regulations.

3 Of the 480 points required for this degree, a student must pass:

a 465 points: Part I, including LAW 121G, and Parts II, III and IV as listed in the Bachelor of Laws Schedule

and

b 15 points from courses offered in either the General Education Open Schedule or the relevant General Education Schedule approved for this degree

and

c the Academic Integrity course as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic Integrity, of the University Calendar.

4 a Except as permitted under Regulation 1 (Graduate Admission), a student may not enrol for Part II unless Part I has been completed.

b Each student must pass Parts II, III and IV in the order set out in the Bachelor of Laws Schedule unless approval to vary the order is given by the Dean of Faculty of Law or nominee.

Note: A student completing Part II will be permitted to commence Part III concurrently, subject to prerequisites and points limits.

5 A student who is required to meet the Academic English Language Requirement, as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic English Language Requirement, of the University Calendar, may substitute an academic English language course approved by the Associate Dean Academic for Law for 15 points of General Education.

6 A student is exempted from the requirement to pass courses offered in the General Education Schedules who has:

either

a completed an undergraduate degree at a tertiary institution

b commenced study for this degree at a tertiary institution before 1 January 2006

c been admitted to this degree having completed 120 points or more of degree-level study at another tertiary institution

d completed a minimum of 50 points of study towards this degree in one semester at an overseas institution, either through an overseas exchange programme or through prior approval under the Credit Regulations.

7 A student who has been fully or partially exempted from the requirement to pass courses offered in the General Education Schedules is nonetheless required to complete the Academic Integrity course.

8 In order to complete the requirements of LAW 400, LAW 498 or LAW 499 under Regulation 2 above, a student must carry out such legal research assignments and practical application of the law as the Faculty of Law may require.

9 Special arrangements apply where this degree is taken as a component degree of an approved conjoint degree programme. The specific requirements and a complete list of the conjoint degrees available are set out in the Conjoint Degrees section of the University Calendar.

10 a With the prior approval of the teacher of the course and the Dean of Faculty of Law, a student enrolled for this degree may elect to present a research paper in lieu of an examination in any elective law course.

b This regulation applies also to a student taking any elective Law course or courses for any degree other than this, or for any diploma or for a Certificate or Certificates of Proficiency.

11 a In place of elective Law courses totalling not more than 45 points for this degree, a student may take courses at Stage II or above offered for other programmes at this University, if they are related to the student’s Law studies and approved by the Dean of Faculty of Law.

b While approval of such courses is normally given before enrolment, the Dean of Faculty of Law may in special cases apply this provision to courses previously passed for another programme. Where the Dean approves such courses, they are to be reassigned from that other programme to this degree.

12 In exceptional circumstances the Programme Director may approve a variation to a student’s personal programme of study in accordance with the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.

13 The Associate Dean Academic may approve a variation to a student’s programme of study which does not conform to these regulations, including varying the points required for each part, where the programme has been affected by the transition to these regulations.

14 These regulations and/or schedule have been amended with effect from 1 January 2026.

A student enrolling in LLB Part I will, in respect of the courses other than LAW 121G, 131 and 141, be required to enrol in the degree of the University of Auckland for which such courses are prescribed or available.

Complete 480 points comprising:

120 points for Part I, and
135 points for all Part II, and
105 points for Part III, and
120 points for Part IV, and
1 item from Academic Integrity Course

Part I

Complete 120 points comprising:

45 points for all Compulsory Courses, and
Either:
75 points from Elective Courses from Other Undergraduate Degree , or
75 points for Elective Courses from Other Undergraduate Degree and General Education

Compulsory Courses

Complete 45 points for ALL of the following:

LAW 121G - Law and Society (15 points)

LAW 131 - Legal Method (15 points)

LAW 141 - Legal Foundations (15 points)

Elective Courses from Other Undergraduate Degree

Complete exactly 75 points from the following:

Selected courses must include exactly 75 points at level 100.

No credit will be given for courses matching the pattern LAW 1**, or LAW 1**G.

BAdvSci(Hons) - Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) (480 points) or
BA - Bachelor of Arts (360 points) or
BCom - Bachelor of Commerce (360 points) or
BC - Bachelor of Communication (360 points) or
BDes - Bachelor of Design (360 points) or
BE(Hons) - Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (480 points) or
BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts (360 points) or
BGlobalSt - Bachelor of Global Studies (360 points) or
BHSc - Bachelor of Health Sciences (360 points) or
BMus - Bachelor of Music (360 points) or
BProp - Bachelor of Property (360 points) or
BSc - Bachelor of Science (360 points)

A student who is required to take 15 points from courses in General Education (other than LAW 121G) and who does not take these points in Part I, will need to fulfil this requirement concurrently with Parts II–IV. In this case the points will be additional to the requirements of Parts II–IV.