Law

Study in one of the leading law schools in New Zealand. Look deeper to find out why laws are made, who made them, how they work and how to change them.

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Why study law?

The Bachelor of Laws degree is the professional qualification and pathway to legal practice and to a wide range of other career options for law graduates in business, non-governmental organizations and public service.

Top 251-300 according to the 2023 QS Subject rankings
Commitment to research
Real admission to the LLB; colleagues not competitors
Learn from award winning professors

New in Tauranga

Students in Tauranga are able to enrol in all of our Law programmes.

This includes our two-year Diploma in Law, our three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Law (for students who do not wish to practice law), our four-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, and all our postgraduate degrees as well - including the LLM, MLS, PhD, and SJD. Students enrolled in the Diploma in Law or the BA in Law also have the option to credit their Law papers toward completion of the LLB.

Law Student for a Day

Are you curious about pursuing a career in law? Experience firsthand what it is like to be a law student at the University of Waikato at the next Law Student for a Day event that will take place in 2024.

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Undergraduate Programmes

All our undergraduate degrees in Law can be studied in Hamilton, Tauranga and/or online.

Drive change in our society

Gain the skills and knowledge that meet the high demands of a wide range of careers, both inside and outside the legal profession.

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Quality of training

Experience a modern approach to studying law that is critical to a successful law graduate in today’s rapidly changing world.

High quality professional training in all the core subjects required by the New Zealand Council of Legal Education. Our focus on teaching practical skills are a key feature of the Waikato law programme, making our graduates in high demand for conventional legal positions, as well as policy and law reform roles.

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Postgraduate Programmes

All our postgraduate degrees in Law can be studied in Hamilton, Tauranga, and/or online.

Master's degrees in Law at Waikato

Take your career in Law to the next level with one of eight different Master’s degrees in Law designed for professionals, practitioners and academics who wish to add to their skill set.

For practicing lawyers our LLM degree satisfies the requirements for New Zealand Law Society CPD points.

The Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree is for graduates with no prior legal study. It is designed for professionals who wish to add advanced studies in Law as part of their skill set. This degree emphasises creativity, communication, critical analysis, applied knowledge and problem solving in a variety of specialist disciplines.

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Our graduate and postgraduate programme provide graduates with the deep inner confidence required to pursue leading careers in law or policy across all sectors of the economy, and successful and rewarding academic careers as legal scholars.

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The power of language - He mana tō te reo

The Faculty of Law - Te Piringa, supports the use of te reo and the teaching of Māori customary law. We are committed to fostering Māori, Pacific Island and indigenous issues within the context of the Treaty of Waitangi partnership principle.