Program Overview

Course Overview

The course "Ethics and the Law" (LAWS 334) is offered by the School of Law at Victoria University of Wellington. This course introduces students to legal ethics and professional responsibility in the legal profession.

Course Details

• Course Code: LAWS 334
• Duration: 17 weeks
• Start Date: 23 February 2026
• End Date: 21 June 2026
• Lecture Times: Monday and Tuesday, 11:30 am
• Campus: Pipitea
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,020.00
  • International students: NZ$5,165.40
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week
• Points: 15

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

• Understand ethical theory, including utilitarian and duty-based approaches
• Apply ethical theory to legal practice
• Recognize lawyers' duties to the courts, clients, and third parties
• Understand the wider responsibilities of lawyers in the community
• Apply ethics in the conduct of civil and criminal litigation

How the Course is Taught

The course includes in-person classes, pre-recorded videos, and guest speakers. All lectures are recorded and made available on the university's learning environment.

Assessment

• Final Test: 120 minutes, BYOD Inspera, 60% of the final mark
• In-class Test: Remote, online, 15% of the final mark
• Essay: Due on 28 April at 12:00 noon, 25% of the final mark

Mandatory Requirements

To pass the course, students must:

• Achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50%
• Read assigned material before each class
• Participate actively in class discussions
• Obtain a minimum of 40% in each piece of assessment

Special Course Features

• Includes mtauranga Mori
• Limited entry

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: 60 LAWS 200-level points
• Corequisites: 60 further LAWS 200-level points, LAWS 301
• Restrictions: None

Required and Recommended Texts

• Required Texts: Course readings available via the university's learning environment
• Recommended Texts:
  • Richard Scragg, The Ethical Lawyer: Legal ethics and professional responsibility (2018)
  • Duncan Webb, Ethics, Professional Responsibility and the Lawyer (3 ed, 2016)
  • Matthew S R Palmer (ed), Professional Responsibility in New Zealand (2nd ed, LexisNexis, 2026)