Bachelor of Laws
The University of Waikato
Key Information
Campus location
Hamilton, New Zealand
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
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* Domestic Fees: $6,335 per year / International Fees: $27,165 per year
Scholarships
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Introduction
Bachelor of Laws
Study in one of the top 200 law schools in the world. Look deeper to find out why laws are made, who made them, how they work and how to change them.
Why study the Waikato LLB?
Assessed by Lawyers & Judges
Lawyers and judges will be involved in teaching and assessing your law assignments and will provide you with valuable feedback. This sort of contact with the profession will stand you in good stead when you come to apply for a full-time job.
Practical experience
At Waikato, you’ll get to practice skills you need to succeed in the profession – whether it’s interviewing a client, making a case in court, negotiating settlement for a client, or drafting a required contract to perfect a merger.
You’ll analyse how law operates in local, national and global contexts and learn to consider the business practices of financial markets, corporations, national and local government, trusts and iwi. Internships
There are plenty of opportunities for you to apply your practical experience to real-life problems. From your second year onward in the law degree, you’ll have the opportunity to gain work experience at the Hamilton District Community Law Centre, Police Prosecution Office, Defence Office, several city and regional councils, law firms and other organisations. You’ll also be eligible for the National Summer Clerking Employment Programme.
Direct entry
Our students do not require a special invitation to progress into 2nd year of their law degree. Our selection process takes place at application stage. If you are accepted into the Bachelor of Laws and you obtain the required passing grades each year, you'll gain automatic entry into the following years until the time you graduate.
New, multi-million dollar building
In 2016 the Faculty of Law moved into the new multi-million dollar building. The new facilities were purpose-built to meet the needs of our students. Our state-of-the-art Moot Court will enable you to record your practicing mooting or negotiation for self-review and assessment.
Taught by New Zealand’s leading legal advisors
The Bachelor of Laws is taught by some of New Zealand’s leading scholars, who advise to governments, businesses and non-governmental organisations.
The classes are small and are typically offered in seminar style discussions. We have an open door policy, so you will have plenty opportunities to talk to our staff. Find out more about our lecturers' areas of expertise.
Individualised, ongoing support
The Faculty's three dynamic law student associations: Pacific Law Student Association, Te Whakahiapo (Māori Student Association) and Waikato Law Student Associations play an important role of fostering great collegial relationships between students and offer plenty of social and learning opportunities.
Our Mentoring Programme will provide extra support. Our Mentors are law students in their senior years of study. They will provide guidance in your studies, help you to navigate through the transition period from school or previous employment to university study as well as advise you on other services and opportunities available to you on campus.
Helpful administrative staff are also able to provide you with personalised advice on study options and assist you with your degree planning. Make a booking to talk to our staff or if you have questions about how to apply.
Accredited by the Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand
Waikato's Faculty of Law is the only law school in New Zealand accredited by the Arbitrators’ and Meditators’ Institute of New Zealand. This means that you will automatically become a member of this professional organisation and can specialise to practice in this growing area of law.
Practicing Law in New Zealand
The Waikato Bachelor of Laws degree is approved by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE). So, after graduating with your degree, you’ll be eligible to complete the Professional Legal Studies (PLS) course to be admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor to practice law in New Zealand. The Professional Legal Studies course can be completed at the Institute of Legal Studies (IPLS) or the College of Law New Zealand.
Personalise your law degree with a second major
The Bachelor of Laws degree requires you to choose law as a major subject. However, you can choose to take a second major in almost any other undergraduate subject offered at the University of Waikato, such as Computer Science or Human Resource Management.
You can study a broad range of optional law papers including:
- Advocacy
- Competition law
- Corporate securities and finance
- Employment law
- Environmental law
- Family law
- Human rights
- Intellectual property
- International trade
- Law and information technology
- Māori land law
- Mediation
- Natural resources law
- Public international law
- The Treaty of Waitangi in contemporary Aotearoa / New Zealand
View the full list of optional law papers here.
Career opportunities
- Solicitor
- Barrister
- Judge
- Policy Analyst & Advisor
- Board Member for Iwi or other organisations
- Legal scholar
- Politician
- Business owner
- Human Resource personnel
- Mediator and Negotiator
Conjoint degree options
Want to combine several areas of study by undertaking two undergraduate degrees at the same time? Then consider a conjoint degree (also known as a double degree).
Here is the list of the most popular conjoint degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (BA/LLB)
- Bachelor of Social Sciences / Bachelor of Laws (BSocSc/LLB)
- Bachelor of Science and Technology / Bachelor of Laws (BSc/LLB)
- Bachelor of Management Studies / Bachelor of Laws (BMS/LLB)
Exchange programme and study abroad
Are you keen to study in another country?
Studying law in a foreign jurisdiction is not only valuable on its own merit but it also enables you to re-examine the foundations of the New Zealand legal system through a comparative lens.
In your fourth year of study, you'll have the opportunity to spend one semester of study towards your degree at one of our many partner law schools in Europe, North America or Asia.
To be eligible you must complete your third year in Law and have a sound academic record. For more information, contact the Law Student Administrators.
In addition to law exchange programme, if you’re studying for a conjoint degree, you may be able to participate in the University of Waikato exchange programme. From second year onward you may study some non-law papers overseas.
Admission and enrolment
There are two intakes for the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) - in February and July each year. If you have New Zealand National University Entrance, then you're eligible to apply for this degree.
The Admissions Committee considers all applications on a case-by-case basis. You'll need to support your application with academic achievement, work experience, school and community involvement outlined in a written statement. Your personal statement should be up to 300 words.
If you don't meet the University Entrance requirements, please contact [email protected] as there are other pathways that you can take to study in this field.
If you pass your first year at Waikato then you're guaranteed entry into the second year of your degree.