Why Study/Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at University of Canterbury is a four-year professional law degree designed to develop legal knowledge, critical thinking, research, writing, analysis, and persuasive argument skills.

Key benefits for international students include:

• A professionally focused LLB with extensive study of New Zealand law and legal systems.
• Practical learning through UC's clinical studies programme, internships and community work.
• Access to a purpose-built Moot Court used for client interviewing, witness examination, mooting and negotiation competitions.
• Opportunities to develop professional networks through law-related organisations and industry connections.
• Flexibility to combine the LLB with another qualification through a double degree, such as BA/LLB or BCom/LLB.
• Students who do not progress to second-year Law can potentially transfer completed courses into another UC degree.
• The degree can provide a foundation for those seeking admission as a barrister and/or solicitor in New Zealand, subject to the separate professional admission requirements.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The LLB has a prescribed foundation followed by increasing choice of Law electives.

Year 1

Students complete:

• LAWS101 – Legal System: Legal Method and Institutions
• LAWS110 – Legal Foundations, Research and Writing
• Five 100-level non-Law courses of choice, subject to UC exclusions.

The first year therefore gives students a grounding in legal systems and methods while allowing them to explore subjects outside Law.

Year 2

Subject to limited-entry progression, students complete:

• LAWS203 – The Law of Contract
• LAWS204 – The Law of Torts
• LAWS205 – Land Law
• LAWS206 – Public Law

These courses establish core knowledge across major areas of legal practice.

Year 3

Compulsory courses include:

• LAWS202 – Criminal Law
• LAWS301 – Equity and Trusts

Students then choose five 300-level Law electives. UC lists areas including international human rights, environmental law and family law.

Year 4

The final year consists of eight 300-level Law elective courses.

Students who intend to later seek admission as a barrister and solicitor need to include:

• LAWS398 – Legal Ethics

among their options.

The wider Law curriculum can include:

• Commercial law
• Family law
• Media law
• International law
• Human rights law
• Law and medicine
• Property law
• Environmental law
• Law and sport
• Trade law
• Trial advocacy
• Gender and the law
• Law of the sea.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The LLB does not currently list formal named majors or specialisations in the same way as many other bachelor's degrees.

Instead, students develop an area of interest through their choice of 300-level Law electives.

Potential areas of focus include:

• Commercial law
• Family law
• International law
• Human rights
• Environmental and property law
• Media and copyright law
• Medical law
• Trade law
• Trial advocacy
• Law and sport
• Law of the sea
• Gender and the law.

Programme Highlights

• 480-point professional Bachelor of Laws.
• Four years full-time.
• First-year entry is open to students with University Entrance or equivalent.
• No specific secondary-school subject prerequisite for first-year Law.
• Progression to second-year Law is limited and normally requires at least a B grade in LAWS101 and LAWS110.
• Strong emphasis on legal research, writing, analysis and argument.
• Practical learning through clinical studies, internships and community work.
• Purpose-built Moot Court facilities.
• Opportunities for mooting, negotiation and client-interviewing activities.
• Flexible 300-level Law electives.
• Possibility of an LLB with Honours for eligible students.
• Possibility of combining Law with another degree through a double-degree pathway.
• LAWS398 Legal Ethics is important for students intending to pursue admission as a barrister and solicitor.

Career Outcomes

The LLB can provide a pathway towards the legal profession, although graduating with an LLB is not by itself the complete process for becoming a practising lawyer in New Zealand.

Potential career directions include:

• Barrister
• Solicitor
• Policy analyst
• M?ori development advisor
• Foreign affairs officer
• Journalist
• Public-sector roles
• Local government
• Media and communications
• Other law-related professional positions. 

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

The latest UC Law information was updated in 2026 and confirms that the LLB remains a four-year, 480-point programme.

Important current requirement:

• Second-year Law has limited entry.
• LAWS101 and LAWS110 are particularly important in determining progression.
• UC states that good grades, normally at least a B grade in these two compulsory first-year courses, are required for advancement into 200-level Law.

Honours is not automatic. Students who achieve a satisfactory standard during their first two years may be invited into the LLB Honours programme. The Honours component includes:

• LAWS410 – Advanced Research Skills
• LAWS420 – Honours Research Paper
• LAWS430 – Honours Dissertation.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students normally need a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa to undertake full-time LLB study at UC.

Immigration New Zealand currently states that applicants need:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Enough money to pay tuition fees, or an appropriate scholarship.
• Enough money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Compliance with health and character requirements.
• Genuine intention to study.
• Evidence of the ability/intention to leave New Zealand at the end of the stay where required.