Bachelor of Laws - Victoria University of Wellington

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The Bachelor of Laws

Law is about relationships, about our connections to each other. Our society, culture, and economy, our family ties, and our international allegiances all exist within a legal framework.

Graduates with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree contribute to every aspect of life in New Zealand, whether practising as lawyers or working in government, business, or the community. They are equipped to both uphold and challenge the principles that govern our daily lives.

Victoria’s Law School is housed in the beautifully restored historic Government Buildings. Its downtown location is at the hub of New Zealand law-making, opposite Parliament and close to the courts, research libraries, and the central business district. This unique environment attracts top staff and students from around the world.

High-achieving LLB students may be invited to join the LLB Honours programme at the end of the second year, and graduates with an LLB can continue on to Master's and PhD levels. As well as training graduates for a career as a lawyer, a Law degree can lead to a range of careers in business, government, and the community.

To be eligible for admission to the legal profession in New Zealand, Law graduates must complete a practical professional legal studies course called “professionals”. Two organisations offer this training in New Zealand, and the Law Faculty can advise students about this requirement.

An LLB at Victoria

A Bachelor of Laws requires four years of full-time study. 482 points are required. An LLB comprises 212 points earned from eight compulsory Law courses, 180 points earned from 12 elective Law courses, and 90 points of non-Law courses, of which at least 72 points are taken in the first year. The second year also contains the compulsory Legal Research and Writing programme and Mooting. See the Course Catalogue to find out the points value of courses.

To enrol in an LLB you need a university entrance qualification. It is useful to have studied essay-based subjects such as English, history, economics, geography, classics, and art history.

First year Law students take LAWS 121, 122 and 123, and four or five non-Law courses. Entry into LAWS 122 and 123 requires a pass in LAWS 121. Enrolment in each of the four 200-level LAWS courses (LAWS 211, LAWS 212, 213 and 214) is limited to 300 students. Students moving from 100-level to 200-level LAWS will be selected on the grade average over their 100- level LAWS courses, with preferred entrant status being given to those who have a B+ average or better over LAWS 121, 122 and 123. All students must have passed at least 72 non-Law points.

As part of its commitment to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, the Law Faculty allocates up to a maximum of 10 percent of places in second-year Law courses to students accepted under the Māori Admission Process.

Most Victoria Law students complete a double degree which takes a minimum of five years. Popular combinations are an LLB with a BA, BCA or BSc. A total of a minimum of 682 points are required for these combinations.

The majority (80%) of Victoria Law students choose to take a double degree. Students can decide whether to continue with either or both degrees at the end of their first year. The examples on this page will help you plan your degree. Variations are possible but these degree programmes have proved generally suitable.

Compulsory Law Courses

In addition to the compulsory Law courses, LLB students must pass 12 courses from the list of 300-level LAWS electives (see page 162). LAWS 334, Ethics and the Law, is a required elective if you intend to practise law in New Zealand. Not all electives are offered every year: check the Course Catalogue for details.

Summer Courses

The Law Faculty offers eight Law electives in timester three. When students have passed LAWS 121, 122 and 123 and all four 200-level LAWS courses, they may enrol in some of the 300-level LAWS electives offered over summer.

LLB (Hons)

If you perform well in the second year of the LLB you may be invited to join the Honours programme by way of a letter of invitation sent before the start of the academic year. The Honours degree, while sharing many common components with the LLB, is a separate degree.

Degree Examples

The majority of Victoria Law students choose to take a double degree. Students can decide whether to continue with either or both degrees at the end of their first year. The following examples will help you plan your degree. Variations are possible but these degree programmes have proved generally suitable.

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