Law

Victoria is home to one of New Zealand’s oldest and most respected Law Schools, a stimulating centre for study that draws particular focus from its proximity to government and the courts. Housed in the historic Government Buildings of inner-city Wellington, adjacent to Parliament, the courts and the Central Business District, the Victoria Law School is a unique centre for students, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.

At the undergraduate level, Victoria’s distinctive curriculum teaches students how to think legally, using the many facets of the law to equip them with portable skills of reasoning and analysis. Victoria Law graduates apply these skills in careers in law, politics, business and government.

The postgraduate programme is under constant development in response to changes in the law, the demands of students and the School’s own research. International, public and commercial law are offered each year, along with courses in other topics such as cyber law, environmental law and legal history. Faculty, international visitors and practising lawyers contribute to a wide programme of lectures and conferences.

Student-led seminars provide a forum for analysis of current legal issues and result in a substantial body of research – some of which is published in the VUW Law Review and other academic journals.

All students are also welcome to attend the lectures held by the Faculty’s two research centres: New Zealand Centre for Public Law and the New Zealand Centre of International Economic Law.

Programme of Study

LAW

• Bachelor of Laws
• Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
• Graduate Certificate in Law 
• Master of Laws by coursework
• Master of Laws by coursework and dissertation (35,000 words)
• Master of Laws by thesis (50,000 words)
• PhD 3-4

DOUBLE DEGREES

• Arts/Science/Commerce combined with Bachelor of Laws 5