Program Overview

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Graduate Certificate in Law

The Graduate Certificate in Law is a flexible certificate that allows individuals to take undergraduate law courses if they have already completed an undergraduate law degree from a recognised university.

Programme Overview

This certificate is an excellent choice for law graduates from both New Zealand and overseas who wish to enhance their legal knowledge. Students can focus on an area of specialisation according to their own interests or professional requirements, while updating skills and continuing professional development.

Becoming a Barrister and Solicitor

Overseas practitioners or graduates who wish to be admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand will need to apply to the New Zealand Council of Legal Education to have their overseas legal qualifications assessed.

Programme Structure

• 60 points are required.
• The programme is one semester full-time but may be completed part-time (over any duration).
• Students must pass 60 points of law courses from LLB Parts II, III, and IV.
• With faculty approval, in lieu of courses from LLB Parts II, III, or IV, students may substitute up to 30 points from courses listed in the Master of Laws programme.
• With faculty approval, students may enrol in a suitable 15-point course from Stage II or higher in a relevant programme offered elsewhere in the University.

Entry Requirements

My Highest Qualification is From:

• New Zealand
• Outside New Zealand

Programme Requirements

• Students must have completed a Bachelor of Laws or an undergraduate law degree from a recognised university (or similar institution).
• Law graduates from both New Zealand and overseas are able to apply.
• There is no grade requirement for admission into the Graduate Certificate in Law.

English Language Requirements

• International applicants whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of their English proficiency.
• Students will require an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 with no bands less than 6.5.

Fees and Scholarships

2026 Fees

• Domestic students: NZ$4,103.40*
• International students: NZ$23,609*
• Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website.
• Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs.

Scholarships and Awards

• Domestic Law Students' Scholarships
• International Law Students' Scholarships

Key Dates

Application Closing Dates

• Summer School 2026: 1 December 2025
• Semester One 2026: 8 December 2025
• Semester Two 2026: 8 June 2026

Start Dates

• Summer School 2026: 5 January - 18 February
• Semester One 2026: 2 March - 29 June
• Semester Two 2026: 20 July - 16 November

Career Opportunities

A Graduate Certificate in Law is an excellent choice for LLB graduates from both New Zealand and overseas who wish to further enhance their legal knowledge. It enables law graduates to focus on a new area of specialisation, update skills, continue professional development, and gain an academic qualification while fulfilling professional requirements required by the NZCLE.

Jobs Related to this Programme

• Private practice barrister, solicitor
• Public service prosecution, defence
• Mediation
• Judiciary
• Law reform
• Private companies in-house legal counsel, tax, property, management consultant, regulation, compliance, human resources
• Government policy work, resource management, parliamentary drafting
• Academia lecturing, research

Further Study Options

• Postgraduate Certificate in Law
• Master of Laws
• Master of Legal Studies
• Doctor of Philosophy