The Bachelor of Laws (Honours) [LLB(Hons)] at AUT is an advanced undergraduate honours qualification designed for high-achieving Bachelor of Laws students who want to strengthen their legal research, academic writing, and analytical skills. The programme includes advanced research training and a dissertation component, helping students stand out for competitive legal careers, clerkships, postgraduate study, and professional legal practice.

Advanced Legal Research and Writing Skills

The honours programme develops deeper expertise in:

• Legal research
• Academic writing
• Critical legal analysis
• Independent legal scholarship
• Advanced problem-solving

Students complete a substantial dissertation that demonstrates advanced legal research capability.

Strong Career Advantage

The honours qualification can help students become more competitive for:

• Graduate legal positions
• Clerkships
• Corporate legal roles
• Government policy positions
• Postgraduate law study opportunities

Professionally Recognised Pathway

Graduates remain eligible to pursue admission as barristers and solicitors in New Zealand after completing Professional Legal Studies and other admission requirements.

Interactive and Practical Legal Education

AUT Law School uses:

• Interactive lectures
• Case-study workshops
• Legal reasoning exercises
• Applied legal analysis
• Collaborative learning

This practical teaching style is frequently highlighted positively by AUT law students.

Supportive Learning Environment

Student discussions online often mention approachable lecturers, supportive law faculty staff, and practical teaching methods at AUT Law School.

Programme Structure / Subjects Offered

The programme builds on the standard Bachelor of Laws curriculum with additional honours-level research requirements.

Core Honours Components

Research Course

Students develop advanced legal research methodologies, academic analysis, and legal writing skills.

Dissertation

Students complete an independent legal dissertation under academic supervision, focusing on specialised legal research topics.

Standard LLB Foundation Subjects Included

Students complete the standard Bachelor of Laws curriculum alongside honours requirements.

Part II Core Courses

• Public Law
• Law of Contract
• Law of Torts
• Criminal Law

Part III and IV Areas

• Tikanga M?ori and New Zealand Law
• Property Law
• Wills, Trusts and Succession
• Legal Ethics
• Law electives

Disciplines and Specialisations Covered

Students may focus their research and electives in areas including:

• Corporate Law
• Commercial Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Environmental Law
• Public Law
• Taxation Law
• International Law
• Human Rights Law
• Property Law
• Ethics and Professional Responsibility

Career Outcomes

Graduates may pursue careers as:

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Corporate Lawyer
• In-house Legal Counsel
• Policy Advisor
• Legal Researcher
• Government Legal Officer
• Patent Attorney
• Compliance Specialist
• Taxation Practitioner
• Commercial Consultant

AUT law graduates have established careers with major New Zealand law firms and multinational organisations including:

• Bell Gully
• Chapman Tripp
• Russell McVeagh
• Buddle Findlay
• Simpson Grierson

Becoming a Lawyer in New Zealand

After completing the Bachelor of Laws (Honours), graduates wishing to practise law in New Zealand must:

1. Complete the Professional Legal Studies Course
2. Obtain certification from the New Zealand Council of Legal Education
3. Obtain a certificate of character from the Law Society
4. Be admitted to the High Court of New Zealand
5. Hold a practising certificate issued by the Law Society

Professional legal studies providers include:

• The Institute of Professional Legal Studies
• The College of Law New Zealand

Programme Highlights

• Advanced honours-level legal qualification
• Dissertation and independent legal research project
• Designed for high-achieving law students
• Practical and interactive legal education
• Pathway to postgraduate law study
• Professionally recognised legal qualification
• Strong graduate employability outcomes
• Study in Auckland, New Zealand’s legal and business hub

Latest Updates and Important Information

• The honours programme is offered at AUT City Campus in Auckland.
• Most students complete the honours research course during Part III and the dissertation during Part IV. Some may complete the dissertation in an additional semester after Part IV.
• Students must maintain strong academic performance to remain eligible for honours study.
• Recent student discussions highlight AUT Law School’s approachable lecturers and practical teaching style.
• AUT has recently updated several law curriculum components, including Tikanga M?ori and New Zealand legal studies content.

Visa Requirements for International Students

International students must obtain a valid New Zealand student visa before commencing study.

Typical visa requirements include:

• Offer of Place from AUT
• Valid passport
• Tuition fee payment confirmation
• Proof of sufficient living expenses
• Medical and travel insurance
• English language proficiency evidence
• Genuine student intent documentation