Study the foundations of the law
Law is one of the forces that keeps society functioning. Culture, economy, family ties, and international relationships all exist within a legal framework.
A law degree sets you up to practise law in Aotearoa New Zealand as well as overseas in places like Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
If you're interested in how laws govern society and how laws are made—and you love communicating ideas and solving problems—the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is right for you.
Where can Law take you?
Meet some of our Law graduates—from courtroom to boardroom, they’ve taken their degree in different directions.
What you’ll learn
Study legal analysis techniques and understand how laws are made, applied, and enforced.
You’ll explore both law in Aotearoa New Zealand and international law.
Learn the fundamentals
Learn skills in communication, problem-solving, research, and independent thinking.
You’ll gain a solid grounding in different aspects of law, including:
- public law—how we control our government
- commercial law—law that supports business and negotiations
- international law—how law supports international relations
- common law—a methodology and way of doing law used in courts in many places around the world
- statute law—how to read and write the law made by an Act of Parliament.
Tikanga Māori as a part of your study
You’ll also learn about the development of the two legal systems in Aotearoa New Zealand—tikanga Māori and the general legal system. You’ll learn about how they relate to and influence each other.
You'll also study Te Tiriti o Waitangi—The Treaty of Waitangi as documents that reflect concepts important to both ways of doing law.
The first year of your legal study will teach you integration of tikanga Māori and how to appropriately apply tikanga Māori thinking in legal argument.
Law as a driver for change
Studying Law makes you think critically about the world and gives you tools to make a change. You’ll look at:
- big problems at a collective level, like climate change, human rights, and the constitution
- problems at an individual level, like property, employment, and family issues
- legal conflicts that come out of differences in areas such as ethnicity, gender, and ecology.
The LLB can prepare you to work in advocacy roles in the community. For example, you might work supporting Māori rights to land or the rights of disabled people. You might challenge the climate crisis or breaches in human rights, both at the national and international level.
Why Wellington
Studying Law at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington puts you right where the action happens. Our Pipitea Campus sits at the heart of Aotearoa’s legal and political world, just steps from Parliament, the Supreme Court, the High Court, and major law firms.
You’ll learn from world-leading scholars—many of them practising lawyers—who are genuinely invested in your success and teach in-depth courses in their own areas of expertise.
The rankings back it up too. Our Faculty of Law is consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools globally by QS World University Rankings. And we’re ranked number one for Law in Aotearoa New Zealand according to Times Higher Education 2026, Rankings by Subject.
How you’ll study
The Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) is the main path to studying law.
It is a specialised programme, designed to set you up for success in any career you pursue. It also gives you the professional knowledge and skills you need to become a lawyer.
This degree doesn't have majors.
Apply what you learn
While you study, you’ll have opportunities to put what you learn into practice. You’ll enter debates and legal competitions—such as mooting, negotiating, and client interviewing.
You will be able to contribute to community-based projects that can help change lives for the better.
Learn through discussion
Many teachers in the Law School use a method of teaching known as discussion-based learning.
Law lecturers teach by asking you questions about the material you study, then use your answers to explore key points.
This method keeps you engaged while you study. It gives you the skills you need to reason, debate, and communicate clearly when you enter any career. It changes the way you think—improving your ability to consider complex topics.
Build your degree
Your LLB isn’t just Law. You'll also study up to 70 points outside Law—usually in your first year.
Pick a subject you’re curious about. It could shape your career path and give you an edge when you graduate. Options include:
- Economics
- Public Policy
- Criminology
- Global Studies
- History
- Film
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Psychology.
Combine your LLB with another degree
Most students pair their LLB with a second degree—this is called a conjoint degree. You can complete both in five years, instead of doing them consecutively.
Popular pairings:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Politics
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Science.
A conjoint degree can open doors to specialist law, like commercial, environmental, or art law. Want to work on climate change? Try pairing Law with Politics or an environment-focused Science major.
Conjoint degrees are demanding. Talk to a student adviser to plan one that works for you.
If you have another degree
If you’re finishing or already hold a degree, you can fast-track into Law through the graduate entry pathway.
- Start with LAWS 111—only open to students with a degree already.
- This lets you finish first-year Law in one trimester, skipping the usual first-year steps.
- From there, you can apply for second-year Law the following year.
- Full-time study takes two and a half to three years.
You may also be able to transfer up to 110 points from your previous degree, cutting down your non-Law requirement.
Talk to the Law Student Success team to find out more.
Limited entry to second year
To enter your second year of the LLB, you must:
- pass all four compulsory first year courses: MAOR 126, LAWS 121, LAWS 122 and LAWS 123
- have at least a B average across the three first-year Law courses.
Pathway to becoming a lawyer
The LLB is the first step to becoming a professional lawyer. After getting your law degree, you’ll need to:
- complete a course in practical professional legal studies, often called 'profs'
- be admitted to the High Court of New Zealand
- get a practising certificate from a district law society.
The New Zealand Law Society website has more information about becoming a lawyer.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
How our degrees work
Flexible, or structured? Learn more about the different types of undergraduate degrees at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for domestic students
- Requirements for students who completed secondary school in:
If you live in New Zealand and are a citizen or permanent resident of New Zealand or Australia, you're considered a domestic student.
Some citizens of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau may automatically hold New Zealand citizenship.
Diplomatic residents living in New Zealand are also regarded as domestic students.
To be accepted into this qualification, you need:
A New Zealand university entrance qualification or equivalent.
Degree requirements
Excerpt from the regulations for the LLB
For this degree, you'll need to complete at least 480 points, including:
- At 100 level:
- He Herenga Tāngata / Engaging with Māori in Professional Practice (MAOR 126)
- either three core courses (usually in the first year):
- or (for graduate students) Introduction to Law in Aotearoa / New Zealand - Graduate Students (LAWS 111)
- At 200 level, these five courses:
- At 300 level:
- Property Law (LAWS 301) and Equity, Trusts and Succession (LAWS 312)
- 165 further points from LAWS 302–397
- A further 70 points of non-Law courses.
Globally ranked
Our Faculty of Law is consistently ranked among the top 100 law schools in the world by QS World University Rankings.
The QS World University Rankings is an annual global publication that gives overall rankings and subject rankings for more than 1,500 universities worldwide.
Future careers
A Law degree opens up a world of possibilities beyond practising law in a firm. Your ability to communicate, work collaboratively, think critically, and solve problems will give you a competitive edge when applying for jobs.
Roles you might work in
You might work as:
- a lawyer
- a policy analyst
- an in-house legal counsel
- a journalist
- a politician
- a judge
- an academic.
Where you could work
After study, you could work in:
- the corporate sector (as in-house counsel)
- a government department, such as the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- iwi
- a law firm
- LexisNexis (platform for legal and business research)
- a Māori governance body, such as a Post Settlement Governance Entity
- universities or think tanks.
More career information
Find out more about careers in law on our Faculty of Law careers page.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for studying Law
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Scholarships
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
We also have specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas.
Scholarships for studying Law
There could be a scholarship for your qualification, subject area, background, or situation.
Postgraduate study
After completing your LLB, you can continue on to postgraduate study and further your knowledge.
Postgraduate study options include:
- Master of Laws—by coursework, by dissertation, and by coursework and thesis
- Master of International Trade (MInTr).
Instead of a full qualification, you can also take some of our short courses for professional development.
Bachelor of Laws with Honours
If you do well in the 200-level courses of your LLB, you may be invited to join the LLB(Hons). You can pursue individual-directed research that builds specialist skills in research, writing, and analysis.
Accommodation
Live in accommodation close to campus at one of our:
- catered halls of residence
- self-catered apartments or flats
- self-catered studios.
We provide care and support across our halls and flatting communities.
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
And if you're ever having trouble with money, talk with us. You could be eligible for government or community support, and we have a hardship fund for financial emergencies.
Apply for a New Zealand study visa
You’ll need to apply for a study visa if you plan to study with us as an international student.
You should apply for your visa after you’ve received your Offer of Place, and before you come to New Zealand.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.